Skip to main content
Normal View

Tuesday, 8 Feb 2022

Written Answers Nos. 148-169

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (148)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

148. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when the evaluation of the way Ireland handled the Covid-19 pandemic will commence; the person or body that will oversee the process; the timeframe within which this work will be carried out; the mechanism by which the public, community and voluntary sector will contribute to the process; and if this work will be conducted in public. [5995/22]

View answer

Written answers

A comprehensive evaluation of how the country managed COVID-19 will provide an opportunity to learn lessons from our experiences in dealing with a pandemic over the past 2 years. This will help ensure that we are in a better, stronger position if another pandemic or another similar type emergency arrives. We are considering what the best model for this evaluation will be.

Specifically, on Public Health, the Minister for Health recently announced the establishment of a Public Health Reform Expert Advisory Group. The Expert Group will initially focus on identifying learnings from the public health components of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland with a view towards strengthening health protection generally and future public health pandemic preparedness specifically. It is important that we have a strong and robust embedded public health system into the future.

Departmental Contracts

Questions (149)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

149. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Taoiseach the agencies under the remit of his Department; the amount that has been spent on all Covid-19-related consultancy contracts by his Department and agencies under his remit in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; the amount paid for each consultant; and the reason for the consultancy. [6030/22]

View answer

Written answers

There has been no expenditure on any consultancy contracts in 2020, 2021 or to date in 2022 either by my Department or by the National Economic and Social Development Office which is the only agency under the aegis of my Department.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (150)

Alan Farrell

Question:

150. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Taoiseach if he will report on considerations given by his Department to the development of a permanent national memorial location for lives lost during the Covid-19 pandemic. [6165/22]

View answer

Written answers

As we continue to live with the COVID-19 pandemic it is important as a people that we pause and reflect, take time to remember those who have lost their lives in this terrible pandemic and to pay tribute to everyone who has contributed to how we have faced and are facing the challenges together.

As announced, a Public Holiday is to be held on 18th March 2022 in recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers and frontline workers during the Covid-19 pandemic and in remembrance of those people who lost their lives during that time.

Sunday 20th March 2022 will be a National Day of Remembrance and Reflection. A Ceremony, which will be inclusive and reflect the experiences of all those who have suffered loss during the pandemic, will be held in a central location.

The arrangements for the national ceremony are currently being finalised and there will be an announcement regarding this and other programme elements in due course.

I am conscious that the Covid-19 pandemic is not over and it is too soon at this stage to consider a permanent national memorial to commemorate those who lost their lives during the pandemic.

ENDS

Departmental Contracts

Questions (151)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

151. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Taoiseach the status of the tender issued for the provision of data strategy services for the Government's housing plan; the number of applications that were received; the names of the organisations that applied; and when he expects the contract to be awarded. [6336/22]

View answer

Written answers

In September 2021 the Government published a ten-year plan for the provision of housing - Housing for All. It is a multi-annual, multi-billion-euro plan which will improve Ireland’s housing system and deliver more homes of all types for people with different housing needs. The Government’s overall objective is that every citizen in the State should have access to sustainable, good quality housing to purchase or rent at an affordable price, built to a high standard, and located close to essential services.

Given the scale and ambition of Housing for All, it is crucial to have robust systems in place to audit, manage, analyse and communicate progress against the objectives of the plan. This will allow for the early and timely identification of any issues which might undermine progress. In support of this, the tender for Data Strategy seeks support to guide the definition of appropriate metrics, conceive approaches for the visualisation of these and consider how existing data can be restructured to develop future metrics.

The Request for Tenders (RFT) document was posted to the e-Tenders and OJEU websites on the 9th December 2021. A total of six submissions were received in response to the RFT; however I am not in a position to release the identities of those that submitted tenders. These submissions are currently being evaluated by officials from the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I can confirm that it is intended that a preferred bidder will be chosen before the end of this week. The identity of the preferred bidder cannot be released before a contract is signed by both parties at the conclusion of the 14-day standstill period.

European Union

Questions (152, 153, 154, 155, 156)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

152. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Government remains committed to Ireland’s participation in the Unified Patent Court initiative which is now to commence in 2022 with or without Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6011/22]

View answer

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

153. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Government has been asked at European-level to clarify or has provided an update on its position on Ireland’s participation in the Unified Patent Court initiative at European Council level, to the Preparatory Committee on the Unified Patent Court or to other contracting states on a bilateral basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6012/22]

View answer

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

154. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when Ireland will ratify the agreement on a Unified Patent Court (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6013/22]

View answer

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

155. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will publish a timetable for ratification of the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6014/22]

View answer

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

156. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to the fact that a previous reply to a Parliamentary Question on this matter stated Ireland’s ratification of the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court, 2013/C 175/01 was being kept under review in the context of the timing of the coming into force of the Unified Patent Court, if this will now change given that the provisional application period has commenced, which confirmed the entry into force of the Unified Patent Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6015/22]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 152, 153, 154, 155 and 156 together.

The international Agreement on the Unified Patent Court (UPCA), signed in February 2013, entails the establishment of an international court that will, when operational, have exclusive competence for actions for infringement and validity in respect of European patents.

The requisite number of Member States have now ratified the Unified Patent Court Agreement and the Protocol on the Provisional Application of the UPC Agreement. Accordingly, the provisional application phase of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) has begun. This will enable various final preparations to be undertaken so that the UPC can become fully operational. It is expected that the UPC will start operations in late 2022 or early 2023.

During the provisional application phase, Ireland moves to an observer status on committees such as the Administrative Committee, and the Budget Committee.

As you are aware, in order for Ireland to ratify the UPC Agreement and the Protocol, a successful constitutional referendum is required to allow for the transfer of jurisdictional powers from the Irish courts to the new international court. The timing for such a referendum is a matter for the Government.

Question No. 153 answered with Question No. 152.
Question No. 154 answered with Question No. 152.
Question No. 155 answered with Question No. 152.
Question No. 156 answered with Question No. 152.

Departmental Contracts

Questions (157)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

157. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the agencies under the remit of his Department; the amount that has been spent on all Covid-19-related consultancy contracts by his Department and agencies under his remit in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; the amount paid for each consultant; and the reason for the consultancy. [6035/22]

View answer

Written answers

In May 2020, my Department worked with the National Public Health Emergency Team on a survey of business readiness for physical changes to the work environment as a result of COVID-19. As part of this, the Department engaged an external consultancy company to carry out online and telephone surveys of businesses. The total cost of these surveys was €26,730.

In 2021, the Department commissioned external consultants to carry out an independent review of the COVID-19 Restart Grant and Restart Grant Plus. This work is ongoing and no payments have been made to date.

There has not been any further expenditure on COVID-19 related consultancy contracts by my Department during the period in question.

Expenditure on external consultancy by the agencies under the remit of my Department is an administrative matter for the agencies themselves and not one in which I have a function. The Department does not routinely collect details of such expenditure by the agencies.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (158)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

158. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the special €1,860 payment for laid-off workers made redundant after the Covid -19 pandemic emergency period will come into effect; the application process in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6093/22]

View answer

Written answers

Reckonable service is service that is included in the calculation of a redundancy lump sum payment. A period of lay-off is not allowable as reckonable service if it occurred within the final 3 years of employment before redundancy.

As the necessary Government-enforced lockdowns caused lay-off situations which resulted in a loss of opportunity for some employees to accrue reckonable service, the State will make a payment in respect of periods of lay-off due to Covid-19 where the employee is subsequently made redundant. In essence a person will receive an amount at the end of their employment as if they had not been laid off.

The amount an eligible worker will receive will depend on the length of time they were placed on lay-off due to Covid-19. The calculation for the payment is based on existing statutory redundancy provisions. The maximum to which any employee will be entitled is €1,860, if they earned €600 or more per week and were laid off for the full emergency period.

The Redundancy Payments (Amendment) Bill which will provide for the payment was published on 21 January and my target is that it will be enacted in the first quarter of this year.

The Department of Social Protection will be responsible for administering this new scheme. Employers will apply on behalf of employees and payment will be made directly to employees. In the event the employer fails or refuses to apply, the Department of Social Protection will accept applications from employees. It is expected that the application process will open in the first half of 2022 and details on how to apply will be announced at that stage.

Work Permits

Questions (159)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

159. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when there will be a public consultation to review the eligibility of occupations appearing on the critical skills occupations list and the ineligible occupations list for employment permits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6095/22]

View answer

Written answers

The employment permits system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills and/or labour shortages over the short to medium term, in circumstances where there are no suitably qualified Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work and that the shortage is a genuine one.

The system is, by design, vacancy led and managed through the use of the occupations lists designating highly skilled and ineligible occupations.

The lists are reviewed twice a year to ensure their ongoing relevance to the State’s human capital requirements, guided by available research undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN), and the Skills and the Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU) in SOLAS. Cognisance is also taken of education outputs, sectoral upskilling and training initiatives and contextual factors such as Brexit and more recently COVID 19 and their impact on the labour market. The views of the relevant policy Departments are taken into account and as well as those of the Economic Migration Interdepartmental Group which my Department chairs and on which a number of Departments are represented.

The next review of the Occupational Lists will open up in the coming weeks during Q1 2022 and submissions will be invited through a public consultation

Work Permits

Questions (160)

James Lawless

Question:

160. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if an update will be provided on six work permit applications (details supplied) in view of the fact they are needed to meet deadlines for various projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6193/22]

View answer

Written answers

My Department recommends all applications for an employment permit to be submitted at least 12 weeks before the proposed start date of an employment. The Department provides regular updates on its website in relation to processing times and advises employers to take current timelines into account as part of their recruitment plans.

Employment permits are processed in date order and applicants can keep track of current processing dates at https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Workplace-and-Skills/Employment-Permits/Current-Application-Processing-Dates/

If a permit is urgently required, an applicant may request to have an application expedited. A request to have an application expedited will only be considered in exceptional cases and must be accompanied by a compelling business case which details the individual circumstances involved.

The Employment Permits Section of my Department inform me that six Trusted Partner applications for General Employment Permits were made by the employer in this case. Following the receipt of additional necessary information, which was requested from the applicant, officials in my Department were able to facilitate this request given the exceptional circumstances in this case.

State Bodies

Questions (161)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

161. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of vacancies by job title in the Labour Court and Workplace Relation Commission; the length of time each vacancy has been for; and the estimated full year cost of filling each of the vacancies in tabular form. [6201/22]

View answer

Written answers

The tables below set out the vacancies by job title in the Labour Court and the Workplace Relations Commission and the length of time each post has been vacant for:

Labour Court

Job Title

Number

Length of time post is vacant

Expected to be filled on

Average cost to fill all vacant positions

Executive Officer

1

1 month

Pending assignments from PAS

€43,650

Clerical Officer

2

5 months and 1 month respectively

Pending assignments from PAS

€62,264

Ordinary Member of the Labour Court

1

6 months

28 February 2022

€113,312

Labour Court

4

€219,226

Workplace Relations Commission

Job Title

Number

Length of time post is vacant

Expected to be filled on

Average cost to fill all vacant positions

Adjudication Officer

1

2 months

28 February 2022

€77,226

Assistant Principal - ICT

1

1 year

Pending assignment from PAS

€77,226

HEO

1

4 months

Pending establishment of HEO panels

€55,269

HEO – ICT

1

1 month

Pending assignment for PAS

€55,269

Executive Officer – Labour Inspector

4

1 week; 4 months; 6 months; 1 year respectively

Pending recruitment campaign

€209,716

Executive Officer

3

1-3 months

Pending assignments from PAS

€130,950

Clerical Officer

3

1-4 months

Pending assignments from PAS

€93,396

Workplace Relations Commission

14

€699,052

In terms filling these posts my Department is dependent on a number of factors, including the pipeline of resources available from the Public Appointments Service, the recruitment campaigns and panels established being in place to meet current and anticipated future demands and the suitability and skills match for each post. When candidates are assigned from the Public Appointments Service my Department prioritises which posts are required to be filled first in order to meet critical business needs.

The estimated full year cost of filling each of the vacancies is based on the average remuneration applicable by grade. The estimated cost to fill the combined 18 posts is €918,278.

Official Travel

Questions (162)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

162. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will be travelling abroad for St. Patrick’s week 2022 on official visits; and if so, the location he is scheduled to visit. [6230/22]

View answer

Written answers

The Government is in the process of finalising the programme to mark St. Patrick’s Day around the world. This will include a programme of visits by Ministers approved by the Government and which will be made public soon.

Foreign Direct Investment

Questions (163)

Cormac Devlin

Question:

163. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount of land owned by the IDA in hectares by county; the amount of IDA land available for development in each county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6273/22]

View answer

Written answers

IDA Ireland actively promotes available buildings and land in IDA Business Parks and high-quality buildings in private ownership through their network of overseas offices.

The IDA is actively encouraging investors to locate in regional areas, whether through marketing potential investment sites outside of the main cities or working to develop recognised industry clusters.

The table below details land owned by IDA Ireland including the amount of marketable land available by Hectare and by County.

County

Net Ha Marketable

Roads

Open Space

County Total Ha

Carlow

12.6

0

0

12.6

Cavan

9.14

1.1637

3.58

13.8837

Cork

316.8079

23.2805

44.5788

384.6672

Donegal

23.115

2.6511

3.0525

28.8186

Dublin

91.92

19.1359

11.4301

122.486

Galway

159.9202

13.1592

5.339

178.4184

Kerry

2.4683

1.5615

0.3143

4.3441

Kildare

92.9639

2.261

1.0897

96.3146

Kilkenny

68.34

6.0175

10.83

85.1875

Laois

6.88

1.45

1.46

9.79

Leitrim

7.1084

1.2105

0.48

8.7989

Limerick

72.58

18.3

10.78

101.66

Longford

2.0272

0.0326

0

2.0598

Louth

91.0972

5.2703

3.52

99.8875

Mayo

12.5609

2.1609

0.7243

15.4461

Meath

23.93

3.1966

0.88

28.0066

Monaghan

5.26

0.59

0.3121

6.1621

Offaly

8.6692

2.6355

1.5466

12.8513

Roscommon

5.9735

2.8839

0.211

9.0684

Sligo

42.1497

7.9249

1.19

51.2646

Tipperary

22.151

0.4034

0.043

22.5974

Westmeath

62.7226

4.44

3.68

70.8426

Wexford

3.94

2.9615

0.881

7.7825

Wicklow

30.76

5.9135

2.91

39.5835

1175.085

128.604

108.8324

1412.5214

Foreign Direct Investment

Questions (164)

Alan Dillon

Question:

164. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made by the strategic property division of the IDA on delivering an IDA land bank and utility intensive strategic site to future-proof its property portfolio in Castlebar, County Mayo and to support the delivery of the advanced building solution by 2024; the engagement that has been undertaken with Mayo County Council to develop infrastructure to access a suitable site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6311/22]

View answer

Written answers

The timely provision of appropriate, innovative, and cost-effective property and infrastructure solutions that meets the needs of MNCs remains essential to winning FDI. IDA Ireland’s regional property programme aims to ensure availability of land, buildings and infrastructure in regional locations for current and prospective clients of both IDA and Enterprise Ireland. Over the last 5 years, IDA Ireland’s Regional Property Programme has enabled the winning of capital-intensive projects of significant scale to regional locations.

Under their new strategy, “Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021-2024 ” IDA Ireland is targeting the delivery of 19 Advanced Building Solutions (ABS) to regional locations, including a second Advanced Building Solution in Castlebar. I am advised that the Agency has commenced the process of evaluating suitable site options in Castlebar and is engaging with local stakeholders including Mayo County Council as part of this process. I am not in a position to provide further detail at this point.

Foreign Direct Investment

Questions (165)

Pa Daly

Question:

165. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of e-visits or in-person visits the IDA made to County Kerry during 2021; the number of planned visits for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6420/22]

View answer

Written answers

IDA Ireland staff across the globe are conscious of the importance and impact of winning investments to locations such as Kerry and other regional locations. The Agency has been operating in a very challenging environment over the past 20 months with little or no international travel globally due to the COVID-19 pandemic. IDA has been operating virtually and hosting companies on virtual site visits with some successes during this time.

IDA Ireland is committed to winning opportunities for Kerry. Of the 400 investments targeted for outside of Dublin over the life of IDA Ireland's Strategy 2021-2024, the South West Region (Kerry and Cork) has the largest target of any region outside Dublin, with 118 investments.

IDA Ireland have publicly committed to build a new (second) Advance Technology Building in Tralee to support winning a new office or industrial investment given the flexible nature of IDA building solutions. The site selection process is underway on this and while it will take time to secure planning permission and construct the building, it is a strong statement of continued commitment to Kerry to support the winning of new investments. It is intended that this building solution will be delivered during the life of the current IDA Strategy 2021-2024.

In addition, there is a strong focus on supporting existing companies to minimise downsizings or closures. While some industry sectors are performing well, others have been impacted significantly because of the pandemic and/or a downturn on certain markets served by IDA client companies.

IDA continues to engage with new companies on promoting Ireland as a location for their business utilising virtual site visits as opposed to physically visiting the county. In 2021, IDA Ireland hosted one virtual site visit showcasing Kerry for a potential investment.

At the moment there are no planned visits for 2022. I am assured that IDA will return to hosting in person site visits in line with all public health guidelines and continue to position Kerry for these into 2022 and beyond.

Regional Development

Questions (166)

Pa Daly

Question:

166. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of times the Shannon Estuary Taskforce met during 2021; the schedule for meetings in 2022; the date by which the work will be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6421/22]

View answer

Written answers

The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, commits to establishing the Shannon Estuary Taskforce to consider the regional economic development potential of the Shannon Estuary. A call will issue shortly for expressions of interest to sit on the Taskforce. Once the composition of the Taskforce has been finalised, engagement with the designated Chairperson of the Taskforce will take place inviting them to map out a series of meetings to inform its work. It is envisaged that the work of the Taskforce will be finalised in 2022.

Officials from my Department have already hosted two inter-departmental meetings with relevant Government Departments, State Agencies and Local Government to explore areas of economic potential across transport and logistics, manufacturing, tourism and renewable energy in the Shannon Estuary. This preliminary engagement will serve as preparatory analysis which can feed into the considerations of the Taskforce.

Work Permits

Questions (167)

Gerald Nash

Question:

167. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department will consider including non-EEA migrant fishers in the critical skills permit programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6497/22]

View answer

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 highly skilled roles that are in critical short supply in the labour market and the ineligible occupations lists for which a ready source of labour is available from within Ireland and the EEA.

The occupations lists undergo twice yearly evidence-based reviews, guided by available research undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN), and the Skills and the Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU) in SOLAS. Cognisance is also taken of education outputs, sectoral upskilling and training initiatives and contextual factors such as Brexit and currently COVID 19 and their impact on the labour market. The Department also invites submissions from industry representatives and stakeholders through a public consultation process. The views of the relevant lead policy Departments are taken into account as well as those of the Economic Migration Interdepartmental Group which this Department chairs and on which a number of Departments are represented.

The next review of the Occupational Lists will open up in the coming weeks during Q1 2022.

Occupations on the critical skills list are eligible for the Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) which attracts a remuneration threshold of €32,000 per annum where the non-EEA national holds a degree and €64,000 per annum where the non EEA national has the relevant experience.

Occupations not appearing on the ineligible occupations list may be eligible for the General Employment Permit which is the primary vehicle used by the State to attract third country nationals in occupations with remuneration thresholds of generally €30,000 but with some lower rates as exceptions for certain sectors. The General Employment Permit is also subject to a Labour Market Needs Test (LMNT), demonstrating that the employer was unable to fill the position from the Irish and EEA labour market.

The occupation Fisherman is currently listed on the Ineligible Occupations List and therefore not eligible for the grant of an employment permit.

The employment of non-EEA nationals working as fishermen on Irish vessels are facilitated with immigration permission under the Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) which operates on a cross-departmental basis and is undergoing review at present.

Work Permits

Questions (168, 169, 170, 171)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

168. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if an update will be provided regarding a work permit application by a person (details supplied) which was submitted on 7 December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6499/22]

View answer

Jackie Cahill

Question:

169. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of a work permit application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6509/22]

View answer

Jackie Cahill

Question:

170. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of a work permit application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6511/22]

View answer

Jackie Cahill

Question:

171. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of a work permit application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6513/22]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 168, 169, 170 and 171 together.

The Employment Permits Section of my Department inform me that the General Employment Permit applications for the all persons concerned (in details supplied) were received on dates between 8th December 2021 and 4th January 2022.

Applications for employment permits are dealt with in date order. The Employment Permits Section of my Department are currently processing standard applications received on 15th September 2021.

Applicants can keep track of Employment Permit applications current processing dates at enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Workplace-and-Skills/Employment-Permits/Current-Application-Processing-Dates/Current-Processing-Dates-for-Employment-Permits.html.

If a permit is urgently required, an applicant may request to have an application expedited. A request to have an application expedited will only be considered in exceptional cases. The Department can only consider a request to expedite an employment permit application where a detailed business case is provided.

Once the business case is completed it should be submitted to Employmentpermits@enterprise.gov.ie for consideration. It is important to point out that the completion of a business case does not guarantee that an expedite will be facilitated. A business case is required to be completed for each individual request.

There is also an Online Status Update Enquiry - for details on a particular application on this link:

enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Workplace-and-Skills/Employment-Permits/Employment-Permit-Status-Form/

Question No. 169 answered with Question No. 168.
Top
Share