Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 February 2024
146. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department will include mechanics on the critical skills given the urgent need to help expedite the roll-out of BusConnects. [5425/24]
View answerI announced the report of the 2023 Review of the Employment Permits Occupation Lists in December last which delivered comprehensive changes to the employment permits system.
The report comprised the addition of 11 roles to the critical skills occupations list and the removal of 32 roles from the ineligible occupations list (with or without quota) thus becoming eligible for a general employment permit. A roadmap up to January 2026 for increasing salary thresholds for employment permits has also been introduced which commenced the first adjustments to the Minimum Annual Remuneration thresholds from 17th January.
The Department received 112 distinct submissions to the review from a range of stakeholders including small and medium sized entities, government departments and employment permit users. Within those submissions were requests to change the status of 356 separate roles across a wide range of sectors in the economy including the motor trade sector.
Submissions to the review were subject to consideration by the Interdepartmental Group on Economic Migration Policy. The IDG consists of cross-departmental membership including the Department of Transport which has policy responsibility for this sector.
Given the importance of the mechanic role in the context of the changing nature of retail, expansion of eCommerce, home delivery and the increased reliance on public transport in line with green policies it was determined that the role was eligible for removal from the Ineligible Occupation List subject to a quota restriction of 200 General Employment Permits.
Applications for a General Employment Permit as a vehicle mechanic may be submitted via the Department's online application system, subject to a range of relevant criteria including a labour market needs test and the revised remuneration for the permit type.
