Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
1941. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to address the labour supply shortages farmers are experiencing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34027/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am acutely aware of the shortage of labour that exists in some parts of the agri-food sector. It should be noted that the sector accounts for 7.9% of total employment, or approximately 174,000 jobs. As most of these jobs are based in rural areas, they are crucial to the rural economy.
Food Wise 2025 highlighted the need for the attraction, retention and development of skills and talent right along the food supply chain. Investment in people is crucial for the success of Food Wise 2025 and the success of the sector as a whole. The human capital recommendations contained in the strategy are more relevant than ever, as we see skills and labour shortages developing.
My Department has hosted two Food Wise 2025 skills workshops, involving all relevant stakeholders, to look at skills gaps and needs at farm and at food and beverage industry levels. This process of stakeholder engagement has led to two important reports:
- the report on 'Future Skills Needs in the Food and Drink Sector' published last year; and
- the 'People in Dairy Action Plan' which I launched last month.
The specific recommendations in both reports are now being implemented, and progress will be reported to the Food Wise High Level Implementation Committee, which I chair.
Labour supply issues have been most acute in meat processing, horticulture and at dairy farm level. While some potential exists to recruit labour from within the domestic and European labour markets right across the agri-food sector, it became apparent in recent times that this will be insufficient to meet the demand and therefore, I and my officials have had extensive engagement with the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys and her Department in relation to employment permits for non-European Economic Area nationals.
I welcomed the announcement by Minister Humphreys of a pilot quota of employment permits for the horticulture, dairy and meat processing sectors in May. While the number of permits allocated is relatively modest (500 for horticulture workers, 50 for dairy farm assistants and 250 for meat processor operatives), it is a good first step.
I said at the time of the announcement of these permits that they were just one piece of the jigsaw in addressing labour supply and that the sector must also continue and intensify its efforts to source labour from both the domestic and EU markets. In this regard, my officials have been working closely with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) to assist in these efforts. That Department recently hosted an information session with representatives from across the agri-food sector on the range of initiatives and supports they can provide, from ‘Intreo’ to ‘EURES’ and more. I understand that individual sub-sectors have arranged further meetings and information sessions with the DEASP.
The Deputy will be aware that the State has now opted into the EU (recast) Reception Conditions Directive. This enables international protection applicants, who are awaiting a first instance decision on their status for 9 months or longer, to access the labour market from 30 June 2018. My Department has encouraged sectoral representatives to explore this option, and I understand that they are in communication with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the Department of Justice and Equality in this regard.
These are some of the main initiatives that have been rolled out in recent months to assist the agri-food sector in attracting individuals to take up positions within the sector, whether at primary or processing level, and address the labour shortage that exists. It is clear however that there is no ‘quick-fix’. Instead, we must take a multi-faceted approach and my Department will continue to progress initiatives in this regard.
