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Work Permit Application Numbers

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 February 2013

Tuesday, 12 February 2013

Ceisteanna (342)

Patrick O'Donovan

Ceist:

342. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of work permits issued to non-EU nationals during the years 2011 and 2012; if he will provide a breakdown by employment sector for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6670/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The number of permits processed over the last two years broken down by economic sector are detailed in Appendix 1.

The numbers of employment permit applications submitted and issued have markedly dropped since 2008 in line with economic conditions and the narrowing of eligible job categories and sectors where it was considered that a sufficient supply of labour exists and this drop is reflected in the statistical returns for 2012 in comparison with those for the previous year. It is anticipated that the rate of decline in applications will reduce following a number of changes currently being made to the Employment Permits system with a particular view to processing more applications in respect of highly skilled employees, especially in the ICT sector. Current indications are that there is a significant shortage of skilled employees in that sector.

Indeed, it should be noted that 42% of new employment permits issued in 2012 were in respect of the ICT sector. Furthermore, over a third of all new employment permits issued were in respect of green card employment permits indicating the focus on highly skilled occupations.

Permits issued in 2012 by Economic Sector

Economic Sector

New

Renewal

Total

Refused

Withdrawn

Information Technology

1220

147

1367

87

35

Healthcare

384

250

634

87

18

Services

428

158

586

190

57

Catering

171

116

287

209

52

Financial Services

215

52

267

21

10

Manufacturing

170

79

249

25

6

Agriculture and Fisheries

60

154

214

80

31

Education

58

32

90

13

2

Domestic

43

28

71

23

6

Retail

31

25

56

37

5

Sport

43

11

54

15

1

Tourism

18

16

34

15

1

Entertainment

20

7

27

5

14

Construction

20

6

26

10

2

Transport

21

5

26

7

4

Research

13

2

15

1

1

Legal Services

3

0

3

2

0

Government

0

0

0

0

1

Total

2918

1088

4006

827

246

Permits issued in 2011 by Economic Sector

Economic Sector

New

Renewal

Total

Refused

Withdrawn

Healthcare

718

627

1345

147

62

Information Technology

1023

174

1197

73

27

Services

387

301

688

210

33

Catering

219

225

444

244

20

Manufacturing

196

91

287

38

8

Agriculture and Fisheries

95

161

256

82

19

Financial Services

187

61

248

28

8

Retail

57

125

182

74

9

Tourism

62

76

138

40

4

Education

76

46

122

19

1

Domestic

41

76

117

30

2

Sport

42

13

55

8

4

Construction

33

15

48

9

3

Transport

14

13

27

13

1

Entertainment

17

1

18

7

0

Research

8

9

17

6

0

Government

3

3

6

1

0

Legal Services

1

4

5

1

0

Total

3179

2021

5200

1030

201

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