Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 July 2018
369. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to remove the role of healthcare assistants from the ineligible categories of employment for employment permits on a controlled basis (details supplied). [29198/18]
View answerMy colleague, the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation recognises the fact that there are pressures in the labour market and has asked her Department to review the policies underpinning the current employment permits system. The report of the review group is due shortly. Following on from this Report, it is expected that a review of the ineligible and eligible list of occupations for employment permits will be conducted in the second half of this year.
To remove a skill from the ineligible list, it must be demonstrated that recruitment difficulties are due to shortages and not to factors such as pay and/or working conditions. It is important therefore that a detailed business case, which sets out the necessary data and evidence to justify the need for the nursing home sector to go outside the EEA to find workers, is provided.
Within my own Department, my colleague, Minister Daly, with special responsibility for Older People has already indicated that he is willing to work with the Nursing Home industry on this matter so that the Department of Health, as the lead Department for the sector, can in turn make the case to the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
In this regard, Minster Daly has met with Nursing Homes Ireland and has received some data from them about this issue. Officials from my Department have also agreed to meet with Nursing Homes Ireland, along with officials from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation. A date will be agreed shortly.
