Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 November 2022
82. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of employment permit applications for the role of dairy farm assistant that have been returned, in view that the 100 general employment permits established under this quota for dairy farm assistants have now been granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54604/22]
View answerAll applications are processed in line with the Employment Permits Act 2006, as amended and are dependent on a job offer from an Irish registered employer for an eligible occupation. It should be noted that the State's employment permit system is ordered by the use of occupation lists which determine which employments are highly demanded and which are ineligible for consideration for employment permits at a point in time.
In October 2021, in response to labour shortages in the agriculture and agri-food sector, I announced a new quota of 100 General Employment Permits for the role of Dairy Farm Assistant, subject to a minimum annual remuneration of €30,000.
All Agriculture quotas were opened with a proviso that a strategic review on labour attraction and retention in the sector is carried out in order to put in place more sustainable solutions for meeting the labour needs of the sector into the future.
The Deputy is aware that at this time all of the 100 General Employment Permits established under this quota for Dairy Farm Assistants have now been granted.
As of 2 November 2022, the number of general employment permit applications for the role of dairy farm assistant that have been returned by the Department, due to the allocated quota of 100 permits having been reached, currently stands at 15.
The Department continues to keep the employment permits system under review in light of changing labour market circumstances and the timing of the next Review of the Occupational Lists will be kept under consideration.
