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Work Permits

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2022

Tuesday, 8 February 2022

Questions (173)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

173. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if foreign nationals who are applying for work permits for Ireland for the purpose of coming to Ireland to work as a truck driver can be permitted to do so once they have undertaken an apprenticeship that qualifies them for this work rather than having to hold a third-level degree in the same area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6585/22]

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Written answers

The State's employment permit system is designed to supplement Ireland's skills and labour supply over the short to medium term by allowing enterprises to recruit nationals from outside the EEA, where such skills or expertise cannot be sourced from within the EEA at that time.

The system is, by design, vacancy led and managed through the operation of the occupation lists: the critical skills list in respect of skills that are in critical shortage in the labour market and the ineligible occupations lists for which a ready source of labour is available from within Ireland and the EEA.

Non-EEA nationals who are holders of valid mutually recognised CE/C1E licences wishing to take up employment in the State as HGV Drivers are eligible to apply for the General Employment Permit without the limitation of a quota. A degree is not required.

At present four countries are covered by mutual recognition agreements for CE/C1E licences – South Africa, Australia, Japan and South Korea.

In accordance with Employment Permit legislation, the requirements for the General Employment Permit are a minimum remuneration threshold of €30,000 and that a Labour Market Needs Test be carried out. Details of the complete set of requirements for an application are set out on my Department’s website.

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