Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 June 2019
174. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has requested his colleague the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation to consider issuing additional work permits for the dairy sector. [24806/19]
View answerFollowing the submission of an evidence-based business case from my Department last year, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys T.D. announced in May 2018 a pilot quota of 50 permits for dairy farm assistants to address labour shortages in that sector. I understand that this allocation has now been used up.
Having recently received a business case from a farm organisation for a further allocation of such permits, my Department is satisfied that it provides sufficient detail for further consideration by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI). As a result, the submission has been forwarded to that Department for their assessment.
