Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 October 2022
381. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the cap on work permits in the meat processing sector will be increased as a matter of urgency given that some companies in the sector are experiencing a shortage of skills and are being forced to recruit abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52557/22]
View answerArising from ongoing engagement with sector stakeholders, my Department is in regular contact with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) regarding the labour shortages that exist in certain sub-sectors of agri-food, including meat processing.
The Deputy will be aware that DETE has lead responsibility for this issue and in November 2021 announced quotas of 500 general employment permits for meat deboners and 1,500 for meat processing operatives, along with other quotas for the agriculture sector. An additional quota extension of 425 meat processing operative permits was also established in June 2022. DETE has advised that they continue to keep the employment permits system under review in light of changing labour market circumstances and the timing of future quota allocations will be kept under consideration.
While this is one method for helping to fill labour shortages, it should be considered as a last resort. The Department of Social Protection are involved in helping employers recruit from the domestic and European labour market. Sectors also need to have appropriate labour attraction and retention policies in place.
The new Food Vision 2030 strategy includes a goal to “Attract and Nurture Diverse and Inclusive Talent” and this recommends actions for the sector, including that employers in the agri-food industry will develop an education, skills and talent attraction and retention strategy. I look forward to progressing these actions with the sector through the Food Vision implementation process.
