Data in respect of employment permit activity covering the period specified by the Deputy is tabulated hereunder. As the figures show, there has been a significant reduction over the period in question in the numbers of permits issued each year, which reflects the contraction in the economy that took place over that time.
The overriding objective of my Department’s Employment Permit system is to help attract from outside the European Economic Area those skills we cannot source from within it and which Ireland needs in order to exploit the potential for growth in high performing sectors.
As the data shows, permits issued in the industry, medical and services sectors, the latter in particular encompassing the majority of ICT related permits, constitute almost 90% of the permits issued to the end of August this year.
To enhance this targeted approach to economic migration, I hope to have the Employment Permits Bill 2013 enacted during this Dáil term, in order to provide more flexible and targeted instruments in support of the economy’s evolving skill needs.
Permits issued 2007- 2013
Year
|
No. Issued
|
2007
|
23564
|
2008
|
13567
|
2009
|
7962
|
2010
|
7275
|
2011
|
5200
|
2012
|
4007
|
2013*
|
2501
|
*Figures to end August 2013
Permits issued by nationality 2007 - 2013
Year Issued
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
*
|
Nationality
|
23564
|
13567
|
7962
|
7275
|
5200
|
4007
|
2501
|
Albania
|
43
|
19
|
6
|
5
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
Albanian
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Algeria
|
59
|
38
|
18
|
6
|
5
|
2
|
1
|
Andorra
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Anguilla
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Antarctia (Aust. Ext. Territories)
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Argentina
|
70
|
35
|
25
|
10
|
9
|
15
|
9
|
Armenia
|
6
|
6
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
Australia
|
808
|
410
|
193
|
101
|
59
|
59
|
31
|
Azerbaijan
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
Bahamas
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Bahrain
|
12
|
11
|
11
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
Bangladesh
|
663
|
277
|
180
|
88
|
41
|
25
|
12
|
Barbados
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
Belarus
|
374
|
138
|
56
|
40
|
22
|
10
|
9
|
Belize
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Bhutan (Kingdom of)
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Bolivia
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
4
|
2
|
Bosnia Herzegovina
|
63
|
21
|
5
|
6
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
Botswana
|
44
|
26
|
27
|
13
|
10
|
1
|
1
|
Brazil
|
1172
|
601
|
297
|
334
|
162
|
186
|
75
|
Brazilian
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
Brunei
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Bulgaria
|
37
|
22
|
29
|
75
|
31
|
7
|
0
|
Burkina Faso
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
Burma
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Burundi
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Cameroon
|
11
|
5
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
Canada
|
348
|
212
|
135
|
90
|
90
|
94
|
65
|
Cape Verde
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Cayman Islands
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Chile
|
26
|
11
|
8
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
China
|
1186
|
661
|
411
|
320
|
253
|
217
|
131
|
Colombia
|
21
|
10
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
5
|
2
|
Congo
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
Congo (Democratic Republic of)
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Congo (Republic of)
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Congo Republic of
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Costa Rica
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
Croatia
|
112
|
56
|
24
|
25
|
17
|
16
|
11
|
Cuba
|
4
|
7
|
1
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Dominica
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
Dominican Republic
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
Ecuador
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
Egypt
|
171
|
79
|
39
|
27
|
20
|
24
|
25
|
El Salvador
|
2
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
Eritrea
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Estonia
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Estonia (Alien)
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Estonia Alien
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Ethiopia
|
15
|
4
|
9
|
7
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
Fiji
|
3
|
4
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
Gambia
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Georgia
|
11
|
6
|
3
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
Ghana
|
14
|
6
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
Grenada
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Guatemala
|
5
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
Guyana
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
Haiti
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
Honduras
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
Hong Kong
|
74
|
27
|
23
|
11
|
6
|
3
|
3
|
India
|
4053
|
3334
|
1788
|
1890
|
1646
|
1389
|
945
|
Indian
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
Indonesia
|
69
|
29
|
3
|
8
|
4
|
2
|
3
|
Iran
|
29
|
22
|
12
|
8
|
5
|
2
|
0
|
Iran, Islamic Republic of
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
6
|
4
|
Iraq
|
8
|
8
|
3
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
Isle of Man
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Israel
|
175
|
100
|
26
|
16
|
39
|
45
|
25
|
Ivory Coast
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Jamaica
|
10
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
Japan
|
208
|
65
|
50
|
36
|
36
|
45
|
43
|
Jordan
|
36
|
22
|
19
|
8
|
9
|
9
|
2
|
Kazakhstan
|
20
|
10
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
4
|
Kenya
|
25
|
17
|
12
|
9
|
8
|
4
|
0
|
Korea (Democratic Peoples Republic of (North))
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Year
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013*
|
Korea (Democratic Peoples Republic of (South)
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Korea (Democratic Peoples Republic of (South))
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Korea (North)
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Korea (Republic of (South))
|
0
|
47
|
28
|
21
|
6
|
6
|
2
|
Korea (South)
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Korea (South)
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Korea (South)
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Korea (South)
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Korea (South)
|
60
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Korea, Democratic People's Republic of
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
Korea, Republic of
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
16
|
18
|
7
|
Kosovo
|
27
|
13
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
Kuwait
|
6
|
6
|
3
|
6
|
9
|
1
|
3
|
Kyrgyz Republic
|
5
|
6
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
Kyrgyzstan
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
Latvia
|
20
|
12
|
4
|
5
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
Latvia (Alien)
|
53
|
11
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Latvia(Alien)
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Latvia/Alien
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Latvian (Alien)
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Lebanon
|
21
|
11
|
9
|
9
|
7
|
12
|
20
|
Liberia
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
Libya
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
Macau
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Macedonia (FYR)
|
12
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
Malawi
|
12
|
8
|
2
|
5
|
1
|
3
|
0
|
Malaysia
|
798
|
549
|
462
|
278
|
181
|
109
|
57
|
Malaysian
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
Maldives
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Mali
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Mauritania
|
6
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
Mauritius
|
67
|
59
|
51
|
25
|
30
|
13
|
16
|
Mexico
|
126
|
30
|
14
|
11
|
11
|
8
|
21
|
Moldova
|
534
|
208
|
123
|
97
|
38
|
22
|
0
|
Moldova, Republic of
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
8
|
5
|
3
|
Mongolia
|
13
|
6
|
5
|
3
|
3
|
1
|
10
|
Morocco
|
108
|
53
|
35
|
22
|
14
|
10
|
0
|
Myanmar
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
Myanmar (Formerly Burma)
|
28
|
18
|
5
|
4
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
Namibia
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Nepal
|
83
|
38
|
36
|
31
|
23
|
10
|
10
|
New Zealand
|
482
|
224
|
127
|
65
|
48
|
28
|
25
|
Nicaragua
|
2
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
Niger
|
5
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Nigeria
|
138
|
151
|
57
|
63
|
47
|
32
|
16
|
Oman
|
6
|
4
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
Pakistan
|
811
|
362
|
194
|
169
|
113
|
71
|
57
|
Palestine
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
Palestinian
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Palestinian Territory,Occupied
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
Panama
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Papua New Guinea
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Paraquay
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
Peru
|
19
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
Philippines
|
3879
|
2210
|
1426
|
1267
|
753
|
307
|
148
|
Poland
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Republic of Congo
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Republic of Serbia
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
10
|
9
|
8
|
Romania
|
119
|
126
|
196
|
822
|
327
|
210
|
0
|
Romanian
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Russia
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Russian Federation
|
403
|
172
|
70
|
69
|
67
|
54
|
59
|
Saint Helena
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
Samoa
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
Samoa(USA)
|
5
|
8
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
San Marino
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Santa Lucia
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Saudi Arabia
|
4
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
Senegal
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Serbia
|
29
|
15
|
14
|
12
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
Serbia and Montenegro
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
7
|
5
|
1
|
Seychelles
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Sierra Leone
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Singapore
|
34
|
24
|
19
|
11
|
12
|
7
|
3
|
Solomon Islands
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
South Africa
|
1460
|
752
|
406
|
206
|
122
|
80
|
55
|
Sri Lanka
|
187
|
84
|
55
|
44
|
17
|
12
|
5
|
St Vincent & Grenadines
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
St Vincent and the Grenadines
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Sudan
|
6
|
7
|
10
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
6
|
Swaziland
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Syria
|
24
|
11
|
5
|
6
|
1
|
3
|
0
|
Syrian Arab Republic
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
3
|
7
|
Taiwan
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
3
|
0
|
2
|
2
|
Taiwan (Republic of China)
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Tanzania
|
11
|
1
|
5
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
Tanzania, United Republic of
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
Thailand
|
485
|
235
|
146
|
93
|
57
|
21
|
32
|
Tibet
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Timor East
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Tonga
|
5
|
6
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
Trinidad & Tobago
|
15
|
13
|
15
|
4
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
Trinidad and Tobago
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
8
|
1
|
Tunisia
|
54
|
18
|
8
|
6
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
Turkey
|
222
|
108
|
43
|
60
|
60
|
77
|
49
|
Turkmenistan
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
Uganda
|
9
|
4
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
Ukraine
|
1411
|
487
|
248
|
208
|
100
|
91
|
57
|
United Arab Emirates
|
19
|
13
|
12
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
United Kingdom
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
United States
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
United States of America
|
1205
|
867
|
553
|
364
|
493
|
527
|
344
|
Uruguay
|
8
|
6
|
2
|
3
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
USA
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Uzbekistan
|
14
|
5
|
1
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
Venezuela
|
36
|
9
|
3
|
8
|
6
|
1
|
7
|
Viet Nam
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
3
|
5
|
Vietnam
|
57
|
35
|
18
|
12
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
West Indies
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Western Samoa
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Yemen
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Yugoslavia
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Yugoslavia (Federal Republic of)
|
88
|
27
|
8
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
Yugoslavia (Federal Republic)
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Zambia
|
17
|
8
|
5
|
6
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
Zimbabwe
|
216
|
111
|
45
|
38
|
19
|
9
|
9
|
(Group Permits)
|
13
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
(Not Categorized)
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
20
|
1
|
0
|
*Figures to end August 2013