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Labour Shortages

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 June 2012

Tuesday, 19 June 2012

Ceisteanna (211)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Ceist:

292 Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to the labour shortage in the culinary industry at present and the problems that this is creating by driving up costs and stunting creativity and output; his views on whether the restrictions on the amount of time a person on a student visa can work is putting a strain on the culinary industry who rely on such students; if he will undertake measures to alleviate these problems in the industry by easing the restrictions on work permits for chefs coming to Ireland, by actively promoting a recruitment campaign to keep graduates here instead of going abroad for work and experience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29662/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

It is current Government policy to issue new employment permits for highly skilled highly paid positions, for non-EEA nationals who are already legally resident in the State on valid employment permits or where there is an officially recognized scarcity of workers of a particular type or qualification. All catering occupations, with the exception of Chefs, are currently ineligible for new employment permits for non-EEA nationals.

The Employment Permits Section consider applications in respect of fully trained Head Chefs on a case by case basis for ethnic restaurants, this policy does not apply to take-aways. In line with current policy, new work permit applications can only be considered where it is established that the position has been advertised with FÁS/EURES for a period of 8 weeks and that this advertisement has been flagged as a work permit vacancy and advertised for at least six days in both local and national newspapers. New Employment Permit applications are normally only considered where it is established that a minimum salary of €30,000 per annum is on offer based on a 39 hour week. This helps ensure that jobs are available to Irish and EU citizens and other EEA nationals in the first instance.

The Immigration Regime for Full Time Non-EEA Students, which includes "Third Level Graduate" is the responsibility of the Minister for Justice. Full details of both of these Schemes can be found on the Department of Justice and Equality website. I understand the New Immigration Regime for Full Time Non-EEA Students which has been in operation since 1 January 2011 has commitments to a separate evaluation of the student work concession under the auspices of the Interdepartmental Committee on Student Immigration which is chaired by the Department of Justice. Work on this review is currently ongoing. Finally the focus of Government policy in all sectors including the culinary industry is to ensure that labour shortages can be met from training and up-skilling people already in our labour market.

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