Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 Nov 2003

Vol. 574 No. 1

Written Answers. - Work Permits.

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

198 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications made to her Department for work permits for non-EU doctors for general practice work for each week from 1 October 2003 to date. [26121/03]

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

199 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permit applications for non EU doctors for general practice work for each year from 1999 to date; and the specific jobs for which it was necessary to issue those permits with reference to EU guidelines and those of her own Department. [26122/03]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 199 together.

Statistical information on work permit applications received is not maintained by my Department but is available in respect of work permits issued. The number of work permits issued by my Department in respect of non-EEA doctors for general practice work for each week from 1 October 2003 to date is set out below. The EEA consists of the EU together with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Week Ending	Number of workpermits issued
05/10/2003	3
12/10/2003	9
19/10/2003	4
26/10/2003	4
02/11/2003	5
09/11/2003	2
Total	27

The number of work permits issued in respect of non-EEA doctors for general practice work for each year from 1999 to date is as follows:

Year	Number of workpermits issued
1999	4
2000	20
2001	56
2002	92
2003 to date	197

The detail of the specific employers for which it was necessary to issue these permits has only been available from my Department since January 2003 and is published monthly on the work permits page of my Department's website atwww.entemp.ie The website also includes the requirements and guidelines for issuing work permits. I have arranged to have the Deputy supplied separately with these guidelines as well as the names of these employers of GP doctors.