Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
21. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to issues with the level of home carers in Ireland; his views on whether that extending work permits to this industry would help alleviate this shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39755/22]
View answerOfficials of my Department are actively engaged with the Department of Health in relation to recruitment challenges for the home care sector and my Department is a member of the Cross Departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group chaired by the Department of Health to consider the recruitment and retention challenges faced by the sector.
Areas being considered by the Group include recruitment, retention, training, pay and conditions, and the career development of front-line carers in home support and nursing homes into the future. The Group provides a forum for agreement on strategic approaches to address these workforce challenges in the sector and will develop a set of recommendations for the Minister of Health's consideration outlining the Group’s key findings and a proposed action plan to support implementation of these recommendations, by September.
Recent changes to the occupations lists for employment permits did not recommend removal of the occupation of care worker/home carers from the Ineligible Occupations List at that time. Evidence suggested that the contracts of employment on offer and employment terms and conditions, for example, failure to guarantee hours of work and the lack of travel and subsistence payments, are factors in the recruitment challenges faced by the sector rather than a demonstrable labour market shortage.
Changes to the employment permit occupations lists are made where there are no suitable Irish/EEA nationals available, development opportunities are not undermined, genuine skills shortage exists rather than a recruitment or retention problem and Government education, training and economic development policies are supported.
My Department continues to review the employment permits system in light of changing labour market circumstances. Submissions will be invited from sector representative bodies and interested parties via the Public Consultation Form which will be accessible on the Department’s website throughout the consultation period when the next Review of the Occupational Lists commences.
My Department chairs the Economic Migration Interdepartmental Group to oversee the review process which includes membership drawn from senior officials of key departments including the Department of Health and other key Departments such as the Department of Social Protection. The aim of the Group is to promote an integrated approach to addressing labour and skills shortages being experienced in the economy. This includes assessing proposals received through the public consultation for changes the Occupations Lists. The Department of Social Protection plays a role in the review process through its provision of advice on the uptake of its tailored employment services by employers and can provide evidence of sectoral engagement in its job fairs and other recruitment processes and initiatives aimed at sourcing suitable candidates for vacancies reported.
