Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2018
304. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if professional roles (details supplied) will be added to the critical skills work permit lists in order to meet the extreme skills shortages in the construction sector; and the steps being taken to increase the speed at which work permits are being issued. [52844/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe employment permits system is managed through the operation of the Highly Skilled Eligible Occupations List (HSEOL) and the Ineligible Categories of Employment List (ICEL). These occupations lists are reviewed twice yearly to keep pace with rapid labour market changes and to be proactively identifying and addressing shortages as they arise.
In order to have an occupation considered for addition to the HSEOL, or removed from the ICEL, there would need to be a clear demonstration of current recruitment difficulties and shortages across the EEA that the difficulties are not as a result of other factors such as salary, employment conditions or lack of upskilling opportunities. Organisations in the sector would need to provide the necessary data to substantiate their claims. A detailed evidence-based case requesting the addition of an occupation to the highly skilled list would then need to be put forward by the relevant lead Department for the sector, to my Department for review and consideration.
My Department has commenced the second 2018 review of the lists of occupations for employment permits with a public call for submissions from stakeholders and interest groups requesting changes to the lists. The closing date for receipt of submissions was Friday 2nd November 2018. Submissions have been received in respect of a range of occupations including many from the construction sector, and those submissions and other relevant research and data are now being examined.
A detailed submission made to my Department by the Construction Industry Federation is under active consideration as part of this process, in consultation with officials in the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government who also sit on the Interdepartmental Group on Economic Migration. I have also met with CIF Representatives recently to discuss the labour and skills challenges in the sector and engagement is ongoing with my officials. Any proposed changes to either the Highly skilled or Ineligible lists, will be brought to me by my officials early in 2019.
In light of the changing economy and as we continue towards near full employment, it is imperative that the employment permits system is correctly oriented to meet the State’s labour market needs. To that end, I recently published a report reviewing the economic migration policies underpinning the current employment permits system to ensure our policies are fully supportive of Ireland’s labour market needs, be they skills or labour shortages in certain sectors. The report confirms that our employment permits system is largely robust with some adjustment required to ensure continued responsiveness, setting out recommendations to be addressed over the short, medium and long term that will ensure that our employment permits system will play its part in supporting Ireland's labour market needs.
The Employment Permits section has experienced high levels of demand for employment permits so far this year which has contributed to increased processing times for applications. In response to these delays a number of operational changes, streamlined processes and ICT solutions have been implemented. Additional staffing resources have also been assigned to the section and a fast track training programme has been devised. As a result of the implementation of these changes, processing times are now reducing.
