New arrangements were introduced earlier this year which were designed to give greater ease of access to employment for the spouses of certain non-EEA nationals working in the State under specified schemes and facilities. The non-EEA nationals concerned are persons working here on working visas or work authorisations, certain intra-company transferees, certain academics and researchers on work permits and certain registered medical professionals on work permits. The facilitation of access to work for spouses was achieved by eliminating the requirement that the employer in question advertise the job with FÁS in advance of making a work permit application, by the acceptance of applications for jobs in any category, providing the original work permit holder is skilled as defined; and by waiving the fees normally payable in respect of the application of a work permit.
A detailed set of guidelines, outlining the eligibility criteria and procedures relating to these arrangements, has been available on my Department's website, www.entemp.ie, since April and has been circulated widely. I have no plans at present to review these arrangements.