Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 June 2023
59. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he has taken to ensure that employers have access to qualified employees to meet the requirements of the labour market; when the next review of the critical skills occupation list will take place; what measures he is taking to stream-line the work permit application process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31203/23]
View answerIreland’s economic migration policy facilitates the entry, in the short to medium term, of non-EEA nationals to fill skills gaps in economically strategic sectors. In framing policy, consideration is given to other instruments that are also available in meeting skills shortages challenges, such as upskilling and activating the unemployed.
My Department reviews the employment permits system regularly, working with other Government departments to promote an integrated approach to address labour and skills shortages in the longer term. However, economic migration alone is not a sustainable long-term solution to labour shortages. Government policy continues to focus on approaches that educate and upskill the population in response to the ever-changing needs of business and society and as a general principle, our labour market policy should aim to ensure that most labour and skills needs are met from within the domestic and EEA workforce.
The Government operates an employment permits system which is highly responsive to areas of identified skills needs and labour shortages across the economy. The system is, by design, vacancy led and driven by the changing needs of the labour market. EURES Ireland, which is managed by the Department of Social Protection, is also working with a range of sectors to support their recruitment needs through the attraction of workers from within the EEA.
The Department actively responds to concerns raised by various sectors about skills supply shortages, highlighted through a number of amendments to the Employment Permits Regulations over recent years, whereby sectors most impacted by skills shortages were provided with access to employment permits, such as the aged care, agri-food, hospitality and transport sectors.
I have this week announced the launch of the public consultation on a review of the occupations on the ineligible and the critical skills employment permits lists. The review process will take into account stakeholder submissions 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 and key Government departments, which is chaired by this Department, will also be considered.
The Employment Permits Unit has reduced the number of applications awaiting processing from approximately 11,000 in January 2022 to 1,600 as of 21 June 2023. Processing times have fallen from a high of 21 weeks to currently stand at 9-11 business days. The Department plans to maintain processing times for all applications at this level, or reduce them even further, on the assumption that estimated demand remains at current levels for 2023.
The Employment Permits Unit has introduced a range of measures to assist individuals in submitting applications including;
• video user guides helping applicants through the steps in completing and submitting an general employment permit application including undertaking the labour market needs test;
• dedicated checklists setting out the requirements for the various types of employment permits are published on the Departments website;
• a new system to refund fees electronically directly to the credit/debit card used resulting in refunds being made within days;
• pre-processing screening of all General Employment Permit applications across a small number of key mandatory criteria to ensure compliance with the requirements of this permit type to provide early notification of failed applications while also ensuring that valid applications are processed in a speedy and efficient manner.
In addition, the Department has contracted IT systems specialists to undertake the design and implementation of a new online Employment Permits system with the aim of delivering further efficiencies and an improved customer experience.
An efficient and responsive Employment Permit system is a critical component to ensure that talent is attracted to Ireland from non-EEA countries. I am committed to improving the efficiency of administrative processes and making services more customer friendly to the benefit of both employers and potential employees.
