Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
38. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he is taking to reform the process to recruit non-EU-EEA nationals to work as healthcare professionals for the nursing home sector in this country. [43902/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has responsibility for the employment permits legislation and the granting of permits which facilitates the arrival of highly skilled non EEA nationals wishing to take up employment in Ireland in an eligible occupation, to meet skills demand in the economy where those skills can’t be accessed through the resident labour force, in the short to medium term. 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 the employment permits system is aligned with current labour market intelligence, these lists undergo regular, evidence-based reviews guided by relevant research, a public/stakeholder consultation, the views of the Economic Migration Interdepartmental Group and relevant policy Departments, in this case the Department of Health. Account is also taken of upskilling and training initiatives and other known contextual factors, such as the ending of the pandemic unemployment payment schemes and the Ukrainian humanitarian Crisis, and their impact on the labour market.
I announced changes in June last year to provide access to the General Employment Permit for non-EEA nationals wishing to take up employment in the State as a Nursing Auxiliary or Assistant (Health Care Assistant) in hospital/nursing home settings. The changes also included removing a number of healthcare occupations from the Ineligible Occupations List.
Department officials are actively engaged with the Department of Health in relation to recruitment challenges and my Department is a member of the Cross Departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group chaired by the Department of Health. Areas being considered by the Group include recruitment, retention, training, pay and conditions, and the career development of front-line carers in home support and nursing homes into the future.
The Department continues to keep the employment permits system under review in light of changing labour market circumstances.
