Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 March 2013
304. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of applications for new work visas in 2011 and 2012; the number of new work visa applications approved in 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15350/13]
View answer305. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the different sectors of the economy in which work visa applications were approved in 2011 and 2012 including retail and distribution and security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15351/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 304 and 305 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 health care, information technology and financial services.
The number of permits processed in 2011 and 2012 is 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 security 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, non-EEA nationals already resident in the State changing employers or in respect of spouses of existing permit holders.
APPENDIX 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Withdrawn |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 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 |
