Ireland operates a managed employment permits system which maximises the benefits of economic migration while 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 consideration for an employment permit.
All employment permit 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. All employment permits granted are employer and employee specific, which provides for the permit holder to be employed by the employer in the specific role stated on the permit held.
Information is provided on the Department’s website in respect of employment permits, including information regarding each permit type, the requirement to undertake a Labour Market Needs Test, list of occupations ineligible for an employment permit, Checklist documents for a General and Critical Skills Employment Permit and an FAQ document which answers the majority of the most common questions, all of which are available through this link – enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Workplace-and-Skills/Employment-Permits/.
In addition, to assist applicants when applying for an Employment Permit, a range of detailed checklist documents for certain roles has been prepared which are available on the Department’s website and can be accessed through this link:- Employment Permits Checklists - DETE (enterprise.gov.ie).
Comprehensive information in relation to the Labour Market Needs Test including a video guide are also available on the Department’s website and can be accessed through this link:- enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Workplace-and-Skills/Employment-Permits/Employment-Permit-Eligibility/Labour-Market-Needs-Test/.
A new Employment Permits Bill is currently progressing through the legislative process. It has been drafted to respond to the need to modernise some provisions of the system to facilitate a more flexible approach. The ability for permit holders to transfer to a new employer, inside the existing permit duration, and without the need for a new employment permit application, is proposed for General Employment Permits (GEP) and the Critical Skills Employment Permits (CSEP).
My Department actively responds to the concerns raised by various sectors of the economy with regard to the critical short supply of skills in a number of roles and this has been highlighted by the number of amendments made to the Employment Permits Regulations over the last two years, with many sectors provided with access to employment permits.
Changes brought about to improve the delivery and effectiveness of the Employment Permits system are made following constructive engagement and consultation with relevant policy Departments as well as a review of the workforce challenges in the sectors in question.
The Critical Skills Occupations List and the Ineligible Occupations List will be reviewed shortly. The Review will take into account the submissions made through the stakeholder consultation process and will also be informed by research undertaken by labour market policy research bodies such as the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) and SOLAS. The views of the Economic Migration Interdepartmental Group, which is chaired by this Department, will also be considered.
