Following the submission of an evidence-based business case from my Department last year, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys T.D. announced in May 2018 a pilot quota of 50 permits for dairy farm assistants
to address labour shortages in that sector. I understand that this allocation has now been used up.
Having recently received a business case from a farm organisation for a further allocation of such permits, my Department is satisfied that it provides sufficient detail for further consideration by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI). As a result, the submission has been forwarded to that Department for their assessment.