Written Answers Nos. 1-2
1. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to reopen applications for work permits for dairy farm assistants in early 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22385/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe employment permits system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills and/or labour shortages, however, this objective must be balanced by the need to ensure that there are no suitably qualified Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work and that the shortage is a genuine one.
In order to ensure that the employment permits system is responsive to changes in economic circumstances and labour market conditions, it is managed through the operation of the critical skills and the ineligible occupations lists which determine employments that are either in high demand or are ineligible for consideration for an employment permit. The lists are subject to twice yearly reviews which are evidence based and are guided by research undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) and the Skills and the Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU) in SOLAS, a public consultation process, input from the relevant policy Departments and the Economic Migration Inter-Departmental Group, chaired by the Department. Account is also taken of contextual factors such as Brexit and, in the current context, COVID 19 and their impact on the labour market.
The pilot quota-based scheme introduced in May 2018 following consideration of a detailed business case submitted by the sector, provided a quota of 150 general employment permits for the occupation of Dairy Farm Assistant. This pilot scheme has proved very successful for a range of employers in the sector and the quota of 150 employment permits is now exhausted.
Consideration of the submissions received to the current occupations lists review is underway, including from the farming sector, and scheduled to be finalised in the coming weeks.
2. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider a once-off grant payment to the hair and beauty sector (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22416/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am keenly aware that businesses are continuing to make massive sacrifices to protect their communities. Following the advice of NPHET, the Government made the decision to move the entire country to Level 5 of the Framework for Living with COVID-19 (COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021: The Path Ahead) and for essential retail and services (including childcare) to remain open.
This has been followed by the recent Government announcement of a phased easing of public health restrictions that commenced on 12th April. The current public health measures will remain in place until 4 May. Government will meet in advance of that date to review the level of restrictions.
These decisions are not taken lightly, and the Government has worked to support businesses through this difficult time with a comprehensive range of measures for firms of all sizes. Details of the wide range of COVID-19 schemes and measures for businesses are available on my Department’s website at https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/.
A significant package of tax and expenditure measures to build the resilience of the economy and to help vulnerable but viable businesses across all sectors was introduced in Budget 2021. The measures include the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), now extended until the 30th of June, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), the COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), and the Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC), low-cost loans, the deferral and warehousing of tax liabilities and the waiver of commercial rates.
The CRSS has provided vital support to businesses that have been forced to close or restrict access to their premises on foot of public health regulations. As we slowly and carefully start to reopen the economy, the Government has agreed to the extension of the CRSS until 30th of June 2021. There is provision in the CRSS for a “restart week” which allows a business to claim for an extra week upon reopening after restrictions are lifted, which will be of particular benefit as businesses start to re-open.
The Government are committed that there will be no cliff-edge end to the economic supports at the end of June. Government recognises that re-opening will be costly and will pose new challenges that will need to be sustained by continued supports and corrective measures to get the balance right between supporting recovery and cost to the Exchequer, and plans for this are currently in development.
