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Work Permits

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 June 2020

Tuesday, 9 June 2020

Questions (273)

Peter Burke

Question:

273. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to release additional horticulture or similar employment permits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9771/20]

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Written answers

In May 2018, I introduced a pilot quota-based scheme to remove the occupations of horticulture worker, meat processing operative and dairy farm assistant from the ineligible occupations list. This pilot scheme allows workers from non-EEA countries to access employment opportunities.

The application of a quota-based system is to ensure that in the longer-term, strategies are put in place to source labour supply from both the domestic and European labour markets and to invest in innovative technologies.

To date this pilot scheme has proved very successful for a range of employers in the sector. 500 permits have been made available to the Horticulture sector and 150 to Dairy Farm Assistants. A quota of 1,500 permits for Meat Processing Operatives was also extended on 1 January 2020 by a further 1000 permits, this followed a review completed at the end of 2019. In addition, from July 2019, a further quota of 300 permits for Meat Deboners was made available.

The quota for horticulture workers has now expired, with all 500 permits issued. An evidence-based case from the horticulture sector has been received requesting that the quota be extended, and this is under active consideration by my officials and by officials of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which is the lead policy Department for the sector.

The Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, Teagasc and sector representatives have also been working closely with the Department of Employment Affairs & Social Protection on a recruitment campaign to support enlisting a large number of temporary workers from the live register to work in the Horticulture sector. This campaign is timed for the Fruit harvest peaking mid-May to Mid-June and the vegetable harvest from mid-June.

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