Thomas Pringle
Question:156. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach the number of retail businesses in Ireland by region in each of the years 2011 to 2021 inclusive in tabular form. [16409/22]
View answerDepartmental Data
Questions (156)
Written answers
The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available. The most recent data available from the CSO's Business Demography statistics is for 2019. The following table shows the number of enterprises in NACE sector G (i.e. Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles) for each NUTS 3 statistical region for the years 2011 to 2019.
|
Number of enterprises in NACE sector G (Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles) by NUTS-3 Region, 2011 to 2019 |
|||||||||
|
Region |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
Border |
4,341 |
4,378 |
4,286 |
4,153 |
4,228 |
4,227 |
4,411 |
4,343 |
4,204 |
|
Dublin |
11,957 |
12,257 |
12,150 |
11,852 |
12,095 |
12,070 |
12,515 |
12,341 |
11,800 |
|
Mid-East |
6,382 |
6,413 |
6,373 |
6,173 |
6,292 |
6,314 |
6,567 |
6,465 |
6,276 |
|
Midland |
2,829 |
2,830 |
2,826 |
2,704 |
2,797 |
2,773 |
2,887 |
2,811 |
2,765 |
|
Mid-West |
4,950 |
4,929 |
4,848 |
4,705 |
4,843 |
4,805 |
4,959 |
4,905 |
4,688 |
|
South-East |
4,215 |
4,255 |
4,220 |
4,046 |
4,148 |
4,140 |
4,338 |
4,340 |
4,117 |
|
South-West |
7,027 |
7,073 |
6,994 |
6,843 |
6,943 |
7,070 |
7,534 |
7,268 |
6,466 |
|
West |
4,757 |
4,803 |
4,720 |
4,554 |
4,643 |
4,597 |
4,751 |
4,646 |
4,511 |
|
Unknown |
572 |
616 |
644 |
588 |
637 |
599 |
636 |
670 |
1,959 |
|
All Regions |
47030 |
47554 |
47,061 |
45,618 |
46,626 |
46,595 |
48,598 |
47,789 |
46,786 |
Source: Central Statistics Office, Business Demography Statistics
Census of Population
Questions (157)
Paul Murphy
Question:157. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach the plans that are being put in place to allow those that are homeless, including rough sleepers and those living in cars to complete the 2022 census. [16426/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) began planning for the count of homeless persons in the census in the first quarter of 2020, meeting with the Homeless Methodology Liaison Group to agree the parameters of the approach to ensure homeless persons were correctly enumerated as part of Census 2022. A key part of the ongoing preparation has involved the CSO working closely with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) and the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE). As part of this work the DRHE has supplied the CSO with the locations of accommodation designated under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. This will ensure that persons staying in this accommodation will be correctly enumerated on Census Night.
The DRHE has committed to conducting a rough sleeper count in the Dublin region. The information gathered in this process will be provided to the CSO after the census to ensure any person sleeping rough in the Dublin region will be included in the homeless count. For areas outside Dublin, local census field staff are working with Gardaí and stakeholder groups to identify where persons may be sleeping rough to ensure they are included in the count. This will include persons who may be sleeping in cars on Census Night.
Official Apology
Questions (158)
Ivana Bacik
Question:158. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a list of all State apologies he has issued since he assumed office. [16206/22]
View answerWritten answers
Since taking office I have issued one formal apology in the Dáil, on behalf of the State, for the hurt experienced by many former residents of Mother and Baby Institutions and County Homes. I apologised for the profound generational wrong visited upon Irish mothers and their children who ended up in a Mother and Baby Home or a County Home and for the shame and stigma which they were subjected to.
As part of that apology I acknowledged that the State had failed in its duty of care to the mothers and children who spent time in these institutions.
This apology was one of the first steps taken by Government to respond to the findings of the report. The overall response is being driven by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth who is now working to advance the Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby Homes and County Home Institutions. The Action Plan commits to a suite of 22 Actions across eight key themes:
- A survivor-centred approach
- A formal State Apology
- Access to Personal Information
- Archiving and Databases
- Education and Research
- Memorialisation
- Restorative Recognition
- Dignified Burial.
Cabinet Committees
Questions (159)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:159. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Equality will next meet. [16020/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Equality oversees implementation of Programme for Government commitments in the areas of social policy, including sport, arts and culture, equality, including children and youth affairs, and public services, including matters relating to justice, policing reform and community safety.
The Cabinet Committee last met on 7 March this year and will meet again presently.
I have regular engagements with Ministers at cabinet and individually to discuss priority issues relating to their Departments.
In addition, a number of meetings have been held between my officials and officials from relevant Government Departments on various social policy issues since the establishment of the Cabinet Committee in July 2020.
Northern Ireland
Questions (160)
Ivana Bacik
Question:160. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the Shared Island Dialogue on sport. [16210/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Shared Island Dialogue series is a key part of the Government’s approach to engaging with all communities and political traditions on the island, to build consensus around a shared future, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.
Through the Dialogue series, the Government is listening to people’s views on a range of common concerns, and how we can work for a shared future, in practical, meaningful ways.
We are seeking as broad a range of experience as possible, and ensuring the inclusion of underrepresented voices, particularly of women, young people and ethnic minority communities on the island.
The most recent Shared Island Dialogue was convened by Minister of State with responsibility for Sport, Jack Chambers TD, held at the Sport Ireland campus on 24 February, with in-person and online participation.
The Dialogue brought together over 120 sportspeople, organisations, clubs and community groups to examine the role that sport plays in community relations, and how we enhance sports cooperation on the island.
Former world boxing champion, Barry McGuigan gave a guest address, speaking about his experience over the years and of the power of sport to build trust, relationships and empathy across communities.
Nine Shared Island Dialogues and two roundtable discussions have been held to date, including on: the views of young people on the Good Friday Agreement; climate and environment; civil society cooperation; equality; economic recovery; health; the future of education; and, tourism on the island.
In December, I launched a report by my Department on the first year of the Dialogue series. This highlights the views raised in engagements with over 1,000 civic representatives and sets out how the Government is taking account of their contributions. A copy of the report was sent to every Member of the Oireachtas.
The Dialogue series will continue through this year, focussing on key sectoral issues and on societal concerns for the whole island, including on culture and identity.
Departmental Contracts
Questions (161)
Catherine Murphy
Question:161. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he has engaged a company (details supplied) in respect of the services it provides from 2011 to date in 2022; the number of times he has engaged this company; the services used; and the total cost of all engagements with this company. [15229/22]
View answerWritten answers
My Department engaged the services of the company in question from 2013 - 2016 and from 2019 - 2020 for translation services. This provided for the translation of reports, press releases, speeches, website text, and correspondence. It also included the use of interpretation services for a small number of press conferences and meetings with visiting members of European governments. The total amount paid by the Department of the Taoiseach to the company during the period in question was €40,008.93.
Census of Population
Questions (162)
Niamh Smyth
Question:162. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Taoiseach if he will provide contact details for local co-ordinators for the upcoming Census in April 2022 for counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath to deal with local Census queries. [15230/22]
View answerWritten answers
The contact details for the nine Census Regional Supervisors in counties Cavan, Meath and Monaghan are available through contacting Census headquarters. Census headquarters can be contacted via email, phone or the Census helpdesk at the following:
Email: census2022@cso.ie
Phone: 0818 2022 04
Census Helpdesk: censushelpdesk.cso.ie/
Departmental Contracts
Questions (163)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:163. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Taoiseach the number of contracts that his Department has with a company (details supplied); the location, nature, value and type of contract in each case. [15394/22]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has no contracts or expenditure with the company in question.
Census of Population
Questions (164)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:164. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Taoiseach the reason that there is a question on the Census form asking for the number of bedrooms there are in a person’s house (details supplied). [15782/22]
View answerWritten answers
CSO launched a public consultation on the content of the Census 2022 questionnaire in late 2017. As part of this consultation, members of the public and interested stakeholders were invited to submit their requests for new questions and revisions to existing questions. To assist the CSO in assessing the submissions, a Census Advisory Group (CAG) was formed. Membership of the CAG was drawn from organisations and groups who regularly use census data. The CAG made recommendations on which new and revised questions should be tested during a Census Pilot survey which was held in September 2018. Following the Pilot, the CAG assisted the CSO in deciding which questions should be recommended to government for inclusion on the census form.
As part of this process, suggestions to expand the question on the number of rooms in each dwelling to include the number of bedrooms were proposed by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and IBEC. This proposal was accepted by the CAG for testing in the Census Pilot on the basis that data derived from the question could provide increased insights into relative levels of crowding in homes across the country. The revised question was successfully tested in the Pilot and subsequently recommended by the CAG for inclusion on the census form. Approval for the inclusion of the question in the census was received by government in 2019.
Census of Population
Questions (165)
Pa Daly
Question:165. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Taoiseach if he will address questions relating to a respondent’s sex on the current census form; and his plans for reform of questions relating to gender identity on future census forms. [16105/22]
View answerWritten answers
Under Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/543, the CSO is legally obliged to produce data on sex with response options limited to male and female only in Census 2022. This is reflected in Question 2 on the census form which asks “What is your sex?” with response options of “Male” and “Female”.
CSO launched a public consultation on the content of the Census 2022 questionnaire in late 2017. As part of this consultation, members of the public and interested stakeholders were invited to submit their requests for new questions and revisions to existing questions. To assist the CSO in assessing the submissions, a Census Advisory Group (CAG) was formed. Membership of the CAG was drawn from organisations and groups who regularly use census data. The CAG made recommendations on which new and revised questions should be tested during a Census Pilot survey which was held in September 2018. Following the Pilot, the CAG assisted the CSO in deciding which questions should be recommended to government for inclusion on the census form.
During the consultation process, several submissions were made requesting a new question on gender identity. As gender identity is an emerging area for statistical data collection, the CAG proposed that the CSO should test and develop a new question that would capture robust data on gender identity before it should be considered for inclusion on a census. Subsequent to the consultation, the CSO has introduced a new gender identity question on both a household survey and as part of the new PULSE surveys. The CSO’s view is that the new question has performed well and that it will be recommended for Pilot testing as part of the preparations for the next census. Inclusion of the new gender identity question in the next census will be subject to approval by the CAG and ultimately by government.
The CSO is aware that in the absence of a question on gender identity on the census form, some members of the public may have difficulty in responding to the question on sex as it appears on the census form. In order to make the census as inclusive as possible, the CSO has advised that for people who have such a difficulty, they can mark both male and female boxes.
In order to meet the aforementioned EU regulation, the CSO is legally obliged to categorise the sex of all persons on the census as either male or female. When both response options have been marked on the census form, the CSO will be required to impute a value of either male or female to each digital record. The imputation of these values will reflect the distribution of the sex variable across the population, which is approximately 50/50. The digital data will be used as the basis for census statistical publications and will only be released in aggregated form.
The CSO will not make any amendments to the paper forms returned from the public. Thus, should someone mark both boxes in the sex question on their census form, this paper record will remain unchanged and will be what is made public 100 years after the census in line with Section 35 of the Statistics Act 1993.
Census 2022 also contains a new time capsule section which provides a space on the form where households have the option to write a message of their choosing. Along with the rest of the census forms, these messages will be placed in secure storage until the release of the forms after 100 years. The time capsules provide an opportunity for members of the public to record information not otherwise captured on the census form.
Undocumented Irish in the USA
Questions (166)
Michael Lowry
Question:166. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Taoiseach if he discussed the issue of the undocumented Irish in the United States of America with the President of the United States; and if this matter was raised with other officials when attending meetings in the United States of America. [16130/22]
View answerWritten answers
The welfare of undocumented Irish emigrants in the United States remains a priority for Government. In my virtual meeting with President Biden on 17 March, we discussed comprehensive immigration reform, including the specific issue of undocumented Irish people in the United States. President Biden has demonstrated his commitment to immigration issues, including possible pathways to citizenship in his Citizenship Act of 2021.
Departmental Data
Questions (167)
Seán Sherlock
Question:167. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Taoiseach the number of retainers his Department has with outside organisations; and the cost of each retainer in tabular form. [16159/22]
View answerWritten answers
My Department liaises closely with the Office of Government Procurement on all matters related to public procurement and avails of OGP framework agreements, where appropriate, when engaging external contractors. All areas of expenditure are monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure that value for money is being achieved.
My Department has no record of engaging the services of any external organisations on a retainer basis.
Departmental Consultations
Questions (168)
Carol Nolan
Question:168. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Taoiseach the external consultancy organisation or provider which delivered diversity and inclusion training within his Department in each of the years 2018 to 2021 and to date in 2022; and the costs associated with such services. [16383/22]
View answerWritten answers
My Department, in line with the rest of the Civil Service, actively supports diversity and inclusion in the workplace and is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all staff.
Recent measures taken to promote diversity and inclusion in my Department include:
- Participation in AHEAD’s Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) Programme, a graduate internship opportunity for persons with a disability;
- Participation in the North East Inner City Flash Mentoring Programme which provides students from 6 inner city schools with a series of short, low pressure, one-time meetings with a range of experienced professionals;
- Participation by staff of my Department in the Civil Service Women’s Network;
- Participation in Events Being Run by the Public Service for Staff during Pride Month 2021;
- Implementation of Gender Balance measures linked to talent management opportunities, supporting staff returning from maternity leave and promoting work life balance;
- Presentation to Departmental staff by the National Disability Authority on International Day of People with Disabilities to raise awareness of Disability at Work;
- Attendance by Human Resources staff at relevant conferences covering diversity and inclusion topics;
- Progressing my Department’s well-being programme which provides staff with a regular platform to input into measures and activities to help shape an inclusive and supportive workplace; and
- Unconscious bias training as part of interview board training for internal promotion competitions, delivered by Carr Communications at a cost of €1,300 in 2018, €2,600 in 2019, €650 in 2020, €650 in 2021, and €650 to date in 2022.
Departmental Data
Questions (169, 170, 173, 174, 175, 176)
Thomas Pringle
Question:169. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach the average hourly other labour costs of the category clerical, sales and service employees in the NACE Rev 2 category of wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles G in each of the years 2010 to 2021 inclusive in tabular form. [16406/22]
View answerThomas Pringle
Question:170. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach the average hourly total labour costs of the category clerical, sales and service employees in the NACE Rev 2 category of wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles G for each of the years 2010 to 2021 inclusive in tabular form. [16407/22]
View answerThomas Pringle
Question:173. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach the average hourly earnings of the category clerical, sales and service employees in the NACE Rev 2 category of wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles G in each of the years 2010 to 2021 inclusive in tabular form. [16411/22]
View answerThomas Pringle
Question:174. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach the average hourly earnings excluding irregular earnings of the category clerical, sales and service employees in the NACE Rev 2 category of wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles G in each of the years 2010 to 2021 inclusive in tabular form. [16412/22]
View answerThomas Pringle
Question:175. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach the average weekly paid hours of the category clerical, sales and service employees in the NACE Rev 2 category of wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles G in each of the years 2010 to 2021 inclusive in tabular form. [16413/22]
View answerThomas Pringle
Question:176. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach the average hourly irregular earnings of the category clerical, sales and service employees in the NACE Rev 2 category of wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles G in each of the years 2010 to 2021 inclusive in tabular form. [16414/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 169, 170 and 173 to 176, inclusive, together.
The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.
The Earnings, Hours and Employment Costs Survey (EHECS) is the official source of short-term earnings and labour estimates in the State. The quarterly EHECS earnings and labour estimates are published in the Earnings and Labour Costs release (ELC). The most recent final figures available are for Q3 2021.
Earnings estimates by occupational category clerical, sales and service employees are produced by Economic Sector NACE Rev. 2 groupings All NACE economic sectors excluding activities A, T and U (B-S), Industry (B-E), Business and services (B-N, R-S) and Public administration, education and health (O-Q). Due to the methodology and sample size of the survey it is not possible to produce reliable occupational estimates at an economic sector level from the EHECS.
The table below shows the average hourly other labour costs, average hourly total labour costs, average hourly earnings, average hourly earnings excluding irregular earnings, average weekly paid hours and average hourly irregular earnings of all employees in all occupational categories in Economic Sector Nace Rev. 2 Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G) in the third quarter 2010 to 2021.
Table 1 - Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G) - All employees Q32010 -Q32021
|
Q3 2010 |
Q3 2011 |
Q3 2012 |
Q3 2013 |
Q3 2014 |
Q3 2015 |
Q3 2016 |
Q3 2017 |
Q3 2018 |
Q3 2019 |
Q3 2020 |
Q3 2021 |
|
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
|
Hourly Earnings |
16.06 |
16.35 |
16.48 |
16.50 |
16.76 |
16.99 |
17.29 |
17.64 |
17.88 |
19.15 |
19.15 |
19.73 |
|
Hourly Earnings ex Irregular |
15.68 |
15.87 |
16.00 |
16.05 |
16.18 |
16.30 |
16.62 |
16.98 |
17.23 |
18.20 |
18.34 |
18.89 |
|
Weekly Paid Hours |
31.1 |
31.0 |
31.0 |
30.9 |
31.0 |
31.4 |
31.6 |
31.4 |
31.7 |
31.2 |
31.6 |
31.9 |
|
Hourly Irregular Earnings |
0.38 |
0.48 |
0.48 |
0.46 |
0.58 |
0.69 |
0.68 |
0.66 |
0.66 |
0.95 |
0.80 |
0.84 |
|
Hourly Other Labour Costs |
2.48 |
2.47 |
2.44 |
2.34 |
2.46 |
2.72 |
2.84 |
2.91 |
2.79 |
3.04 |
1.81 |
2.17 |
|
Hourly Total Labour Costs |
18.54 |
18.82 |
18.92 |
18.84 |
19.22 |
19.71 |
20.13 |
20.55 |
20.67 |
22.19 |
20.95 |
21.90 |
Source: Earnings and Labour Costs (ELC), Central Statistics Office, Ireland.
Question No. 170 answered with Question No. 169.
Departmental Data
Questions (171)
Thomas Pringle
Question:171. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach the total employment of the category clerical, sales and service employees in the NACE Rev 2 category of wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles G for each of the years 2010 to 2021 inclusive in tabular form. [16408/22]
View answerWritten answers
The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the official source of employment estimates in the State. Data for Quarter 3 for the years 2010-2021 are presented below.
The LFS sectoral employment figures are based on the EU NACE Rev. 2 classification.
Table 1 below shows the number of persons aged 15 - 89 years in employment (ILO) classified by NACE Rev.2 Economic Sector G (Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles) in the third quarter 2010 – 2021.
Table 1 - Number of persons aged 15 - 89 years in employment (ILO) in the NACE Rev.2 Economic Sectors G (Wholesale & Retail trade; Repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles), Q3 2010 - Q3 2021
'000
|
Q3 2010 |
Q3 2011 |
Q3 2012 |
Q3 2013 |
Q3 2014 |
Q3 2015 |
Q3 2016 |
Q3 2017 |
Q3 2018 |
Q3 2019 |
Q3 2020 |
Q3 2021 |
|
|
Employment in Wholesale & Retail trade; Repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles Sector |
282.0 |
279.3 |
276.5 |
284.8 |
290.2 |
290.5 |
299.2 |
303.9 |
300.8 |
300.9 |
302.3 |
310.8 |
Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland.
Data may be subject to future revision.
Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.
Reference period: Q3=July-September.
Departmental Data
Questions (172)
Thomas Pringle
Question:172. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach the average weekly earnings of the category clerical, sales and service employees in the NACE Rev 2 category of wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles G in each of the years 2010 to 2021 inclusive in tabular form. [16410/22]
View answerWritten answers
The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.
The Earnings, Hours and Employment Costs Survey (EHECS) is the official source of short-term earnings and labour estimates in the State. The quarterly EHECS earnings and labour estimates are published in the Earnings and Labour Costs release (ELC). The most recent final figures available are for Q3 2021.
Earnings estimates by occupational category clerical, sales and service employees are produced by Economic Sector NACE Rev. 2 groupings All NACE economic sectors excluding activities A, T and U (B-S), Industry (B-E), Business and services (B-N, R-S) and Public administration, education and health (O-Q). Due to the methodology and sample size of the survey it is not possible to produce reliable occupational estimates at an economic sector level from the EHECS.
The table below shows the average weekly earnings of all employees in all occupational categories in Economic Sector Nace Rev. 2 Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G) in the third quarter 2010 to 2021.
Question No. 173 answered with Question No. 169.
Question No. 174 answered with Question No. 169.
Question No. 175 answered with Question No. 169.
Question No. 176 answered with Question No. 169.
Work Permits
Questions (177)
Sorca Clarke
Question:177. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will review the State’s employment policy which permits non-EEA citizens to work as carers in hospitals and nursing homes but not in home care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16670/22]
View answerWritten answers
Ireland operates a managed employment permits system maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising the risk of disrupting Ireland’s labour market. The system is managed through the operation of the Critical Skills and Ineligible Occupations Lists which determine employments that are either in high demand or are ineligible for an employment permit where there is a surplus of those skills in the domestic and EEA labour market. The lists are subject to twice yearly evidence-based review.
Changes announced in June 2021 provided access to the General Employment Permit for non-EEA nationals wishing to take up employment in the State as a Nursing Auxiliary or Assistant (Health Care Assistant) in hospital/nursing home settings. The changes announced did not include the home care sector.
The results of the most recently concluded review were announced on 28 October 2021. While submissions from the home care sector were considered, the review did not recommend removal of the occupation of care worker/homecarers from the Ineligible Occupations List as the evidence suggested that the contracts of employment on offer and employment terms and conditions being offered are factors in the recruitment challenges faced by the sector, rather than a demonstrable labour market shortage.
The sector would need to demonstrate a more systematic and structured engagement with the Department of Social Protection, efforts to recruit locally and further information on the sectors terms and conditions.
My Department is a member of the Cross Departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group recently established by the Department of Health in relation to the recruitment and retention challenges faced by the sector.
My Department will continue to review the employment permits system on a bi-annual basis in light of changing labour market circumstances and intends to launch the next review of the Occupations List in the coming weeks.