Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 January 2015
89. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if favourable consideration might be given to the issue of a work permit to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare whose current residency status is stamp 2 but who is in a position to provide vital backup care to a family in unique and compelling circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2077/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no record in my Department of a current permit application made by the person named by the Deputy or of a previous application made to this Department by that person. The Employment Permits (Amendment) Act 2014 generally provides that employment permits may not be granted to non-EEA nationals to work as carers, as this occupation is included on the list of “Ineligible Categories of Employment for Employment Permits”. However, an exception may be made for an application for employment as a carer in a private home, where the person who requires the care has a severe medical condition and the prospective carer is a trained medical professional (a medical practitioner or a nurse as listed in Part A of Schedule 2 in the Employment Permit Regulations ), or where it can be demonstrated that the applicant has a long history of caring for the person requiring the care.
An applicant submitting an employment permit application for the position of a carer in these exceptional circumstances will be required to include additional documentation with the application. This additional information may, depending on the circumstances, include the following:
- copies of qualifications confirming that the foreign national is a trained medical professional (a medical practitioner or a nurse);
- a letter from a registered medical practitioner specialising in the area of illness of the person for whom he/she will be caring, confirming that that person has a severe medical condition;
- a copy of a P60, payslips, a notarised letter or an affidavit establishing that the foreign national has a long history of caring for the person concerned; and
- a letter from a registered medical practitioner specialising in the area of illness of the person for whom he/she will be caring confirming that that person has special care needs.
Where the above criteria are met, an employment permits may be granted, subject to all other applicable criteria (such as salary) also being met.
