Work Permit Applications

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 February 2013

Thursday, 21 February 2013

Questions (115, 116, 128)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

115. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of existing work visas for workers from non-EEA countries that were renewed in 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; if he will indicate the number that were in the retail and distribution and hospitality trades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9300/13]

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

116. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of new work visas for workers from non-EEA countries that were approved in 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; if he will indicate the number that were in the retail and distribution and hospitality trades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9301/13]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

128. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which applications for work permits continue to be made; the numbers granted and-or refused in each of the past four years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9448/13]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 116 and 128 together.

Since 2004, Irish labour market policy has been to ensure that general labour and skills needs are met from within the workforce of the European Economic Area (EEA). Current Government policy is to issue employment permits for the employment of non-EEA nationals for specific vacancies and in response to employer demand for strategic skills and labour shortages in designated occupations in key economic sectors such as healthcare, information technology and financial services.

The number of permits processed over the last four years and to-date in 2013 are detailed in Appendix 1.

The numbers of employment permit applications submitted and issued have dropped since 2009 in line with economic conditions and the narrowing of eligible job categories and sectors where it was considered that a sufficient supply of labour exists. The majority of positions within the retail, distribution and hospitality trades are currently ineligible for new first time permits. New and renewal permits issued over the last few years in those sectors were in respect of highly skilled positions including chefs, non-EEA nationals already resident in the State changing employers or in respect of spouses of existing permit holders.

Appendix 1

Permits issued to-date in 2013 by Economic Sector

Economic Sector	New	Renewal	Total	Refused	Withdrawn
Total	390	159	549	107	23
Information Technology	191	23	214	12	14
Healthcare	42	51	93	18	0
Services	51	17	68	16	3
Manufacturing	38	6	44	7	0
Financial Services	22	17	39	2	1
Catering	18	11	29	21	1
Agriculture and Fisheries	6	10	16	11	0
Education	8	4	12	4	3
Entertainment	5	3	8	1	0
Retail	3	5	8	5	1
Domestic	2	5	7	5	0
Sport	3	3	6	3	0
Construction	0	1	1	1	0
Government	0	1	1	0	0
Legal Services	0	1	1	0	0
Tourism	0	1	1	1	0
Transport	1	0	1	0	0

Permits issued in 2012 by Economic Sector

Economic Sector	New	Renewal	Total	Refused	Withdrawn
Total	2918	1088	4006	827	246
Information Technology	1220	147	1367	87	35
Healthcare	384	250	634	87	18
Services	428	158	586	190	57
Catering	171	116	287	209	52
Financial Services	215	52	267	21	10
Manufacturing	170	79	249	25	6
Agriculture and Fisheries	60	154	214	80	31
Education	58	32	90	13	2
Domestic	43	28	71	23	6
Retail	31	25	56	37	5
Sport	43	11	54	15	1
Tourism	18	16	34	15	1
Entertainment	20	7	27	5	14
Construction	20	6	26	10	2
Transport	21	5	26	7	4
Research	13	2	15	1	1
Legal Services	3	0	3	2	0
Government	0	0	0	0	1

Permits issued in 2011 by Economic Sector

Economic Sector	New	Renewal	Total	Refused	Withdrawn
Total	3179	2021	5200	1030	201
Healthcare	718	627	1345	147	62
Information Technology	1023	174	1197	73	27
Services	387	301	688	210	33
Catering	219	225	444	244	20
Manufacturing	196	91	287	38	8
Agriculture and Fisheries	95	161	256	82	19
Financial Services	187	61	248	28	8
Retail	57	125	182	74	9
Tourism	62	76	138	40	4
Education	76	46	122	19	1
Domestic	41	76	117	30	2
Sport	42	13	55	8	4
Construction	33	15	48	9	3
Transport	14	13	27	13	1
Entertainment	17	1	18	7	0
Research	8	9	17	6	0
Government	3	3	6	1	0
Legal Services	1	4	5	1	0

Permits issued in 2010 by Economic Sector

Economic Sector	New	Renewal	Total	Refused	Withdrawn
Total	3378	3908	7286	996	205
Healthcare	765	1044	1809	166	28
Services	583	757	1340	200	43
Catering	440	526	966	256	39
Information Technology	471	181	652	56	14
Agriculture and Fisheries	140	409	549	66	10
Retail	172	270	442	67	15
Manufacturing	209	167	376	36	9
Financial Services	150	125	275	21	10
Tourism	76	116	192	27	9
Education	78	86	164	26	3
Domestic	54	99	153	14	6
Transport	77	29	106	7	3
Construction	50	39	89	32	2
Sport	47	18	65	9	1
Not categorised	25	12	37	2	10
Entertainment	23	12	35	3	0
Research	16	7	23	6	3
Legal Services	2	6	8	1	0
Government	0	5	5	1	0

Permits issued in 2009 by Economic Sector

Economic Sector	New	Renewal	Total	Refused	Withdrawn
Total	3757	3796	7553	1796	441
Healthcare	1154	962	2116	228	55
Services	549	698	1247	322	54
Catering	367	587	954	434	76
Information Technology	574	179	753	61	15
Manufacturing	185	212	397	113	8
Retail	142	242	384	107	13
Agriculture and Fisheries	111	247	358	233	30
Financial Services	180	109	289	46	11
Education	138	125	263	54	4
Domestic	79	124	203	39	11
Construction	81	110	191	51	9
Tourism	51	102	153	51	18
Transport	30	45	75	16	3
Sport	50	17	67	14	2
Research	29	9	38	7	6
Entertainment	31	6	37	18	0
Pre New Legislation Permit	1	10	11	0	125
Government	3	6	9	2	1
Legal Services	2	6	8	0	0