Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 October 2023
81. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 51 of 29 June 2023, the number of employment permits issued in respect of non-EEA home care workers since the start of January 2023; the number of applications refused; the number of applications pending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44242/23]
View answerFollowing the changes announced by my department in December 2022 to address the skills shortages in Ireland's home care sector, a quota of 1,000 general employment permits in respect of care workers and home carers was established.
The number of employment permits issued and refused in this category since January 2023 is set out below.
|
Month of issue |
Number issued |
Number refused |
Grand Total |
|
January |
3 |
3 |
|
|
February |
13 |
1 |
14 |
|
March |
34 |
5 |
39 |
|
April |
10 |
10 |
|
|
May |
45 |
45 |
|
|
June |
41 |
3 |
44 |
|
July |
40 |
40 |
|
|
August |
37 |
2 |
39 |
|
September |
38 |
5 |
43 |
|
Up to 5 October |
5 |
1 |
6 |
|
Total |
263 |
20 |
283 |
The approximate number of applications awaiting processing are outlined in the table below. As the standard occupational classification (SOC) code is only applied to the application at processing stage, it is not possible to give an exact number, the numbers below are an approximate estimate (based on a keyword search).
|
Applications received awaiting processing |
Healthcare Assistant (Home Carer) |
5 |
|
Home Care |
1 |
|
|
Home Care Assistant |
10 |
|
|
Home Carer |
6 |
|
|
Home Support Worker |
4 |
|
|
Awaiting Information |
Home Carer |
1 |
|
Grand Total |
27 |
