Written Answers Nos. 26-43
26. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action his Department is taking to ensure the employment regulation order in relation to the minimum rate of pay for security workers will go ahead despite a High Court injunction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43385/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 24 August 2022 my Department was informed that the High Court had granted an Injunction prohibiting the commencement of the proposed Statutory Instrument giving effect to the new Employment Regulation Order for the Security Industry that was to apply from 29 August 2022.
My officials are in the process of seeking legal advice on the matter.
27. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if Enterprise Ireland plans to open an office in Perth, Australia. [43409/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnterprise Ireland has confirmed that it currently has no plans to open an office in Perth, Australia. All Irish company activity for Australia is managed through two existing EI offices in Sydney and Melbourne. There are full teams in both locations and a network of pathfinders in Australia who service additional company needs as required.
28. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action he will take to ensure the employment regulation order is mandating a pay rise for the security sector as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43502/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 24 August 2022 my Department was informed that the High Court had granted an Injunction prohibiting the commencement of the proposed Statutory Instrument giving effect to the new Employment Regulation Order for the Security Industry that was to apply from 29 August 2022.
My officials are in the process of seeking legal advice on the matter.
29. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details on the total amounts of moneys awarded to Louth County Council by his Department in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; if he will seek details on the total moneys drawn down and spent by Louth County Council over the same years, in tabular form, and, if not spent, the total moneys that were returned to his Department over the same years, respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43517/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment provides funding through Enterprise Ireland’s Centre of Excellence to support the enterprise development function and staffing of the 31 Local Enterprise Offices, which are business units within the Local Authority structure. The funding provided by the Department to Louth County Council from 2016 to date can be seen in the table below.
Allocation and payments to Louth County Council in respect of LEO Louth are set out in the table.
|
- |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
To Date 2022 |
|
Louth County Council Allocation by Enterprise Ireland (LEO Louth - Current & Capital) |
856,031 |
784,899 |
886,236 |
999,203 |
2,524,413 |
1,899,416 |
1,222,063 |
|
Louth County Council Payments by Enterprise Ireland (LEO Louth - Current & Capital) |
656,200 |
717,898 |
855,109 |
973,775 |
2,145,008 |
1,519,198 |
825,186 |
Separately, the Department also provided once off funding over 2020 and 2021 in support of the Restart and Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID-19 as part of the response to the pandemic. A Service Level Agreement was agreed between the Department and the Local Authorities which allowed for the Restart and the SBASC Schemes to be administered by them. The funding provided for these schemes was allocated through Enterprise Ireland’s budget subhead to the Local Authorities.
The COVID-19 Restart Grant Scheme was introduced in May 2020 to provide financial assistance to businesses in a time of unprecedented uncertainty in a global pandemic. It was operated by the 31 Local Authorities on behalf of DETE. It closed to applications in October 2020 and was superseded by the Revenue CRSS Scheme. Restart provided €632m to nearly 108,500 businesses, with 3,049 businesses in County Louth receiving €18,263,573 in funding under this scheme.
The Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC), which was available for application from March 11th, 2021, through to November 12th, 2021, was approved by Government to assist viable businesses which were not eligible for the Revenue Commissioner’s CRSS scheme, and not eligible for sector-specific schemes in areas like tourism or the performing arts. The funding provided by the Department to Louth County Council in 2021 to support this scheme totalled €511,000.
30. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide a breakdown of the various supports or incentives provided to self-employed workers with disabilities, and the annual expenditure relating to each support over the past five years, in tabular form. [43542/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are the ‘first-stop-shop’ for advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports for anyone, including people with disabilities, intending to start or grow a business. In that regard, the LEOs provide a ‘signposting’ service in relation to all relevant State supports available through agencies such as the Department of Social Protection, Revenue, Education and Training Boards, the Credit Review Office and Microfinance Ireland.
The Local Enterprise Office grant supports are available to all entrepreneurs provided their business meets the general eligibility criteria, such as operating in manufacturing or internationally traded services and with up to 10 employees.
In addition, all entrepreneurs can avail of Local Enterprise Office training, mentoring and management development programmes. Furthermore, Local Enterprise Offices can provide additional support to entrepreneurs with disabilities such as one to one mentoring or accommodations to assist with the completion of grant application forms or to complete training courses such as Start Your Own Business.
The Local Enterprise Offices do not collect data in relation to the disability status of individual applicants and therefore cannot provide a breakdown of annual expenditure by disability status.
The Department of Social Protection does however provide specific supports to help people with disabilities to find and keep employment, including self-employment.
31. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the effect of antisocial behaviour on central Dublin businesses; and if he has corresponded with the Minister for Justice on the matter. [43559/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Retail Forum is a platform for engagement with members of the retail sector to discuss issues affecting the sector. As Chair of this Forum, from time to time I hear from members about their experiences with anti-social behaviour in Dublin City centre.
At the June 2022 Retail Forum, I heard from members regarding safety concerns for some businesses around the country including safety concerns for staff working late shifts. Minutes from a Retail Forum Working Group meeting on Town Centre First /Night-time Economy of 16th May 2022 record how members mentioned that later trading hours will have personal implications for their staff, including safety considerations.
The Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce published in September 2021 contained 36 practical recommendations in the area of regulation, licensing, planning, transport, safety and increasing the diversity of activities as part of the night-time offering.
The Report recommended specific actions in relation to the issue of public safety and security and suggested ways that current structures could support and enhance safety measures to improve our public realm and create a strong sense of safety for the Night-Time Economy.
An Implementation Group made up of key Departments, including the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Agencies and sectoral representation has been established to ensure that the recommendations contained within the Report are implemented in full.
My officials have also been in touch with Department of Justice officials regarding measures being taken to ensure community safety, including in the Dublin Metropolitan region. The following measures are the current An Garda Síochána operations in Dublin:
Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP)
- The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (CoFPI) recognised that Community Safety is not solely the responsibility of the Gardaí or the Department of Justice. It is a whole of Government responsibility.
- There are currently 3 pilot LCSPs running in Longford, Waterford and Dublin North Inner City.
- Each LCSP is fully established, with an independent Chair and a Partnership Co-ordinator.
- The Partnerships are working on their Local Community Safety Plans, which will be informed by, and tailored to, the needs to the community.
- Learnings from these Pilots will inform the rollout of LCSPs to every Local Authority area on enactment of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill
Proposed O’Connell St Premises for An Garda Síochána.
- A property located at 13A Upper O’Connell Street, Dublin 1 has been identified as a strategically important piece of infrastructure to enhance An Garda Síochána’s high visibility policing service in the DMR North Central Division.
- The property will not be a Garda station as it will not be a place of detention/custody.
- The property will act as a ‘hub’ and offer most of the services of a public office of a Garda station with some exceptions (such as verifying passport applications).
- Members attached to certain operations such as Operation Citizen will be able to ‘parade’ at the hub (report for duty).
- The project is being progressed by AGS and OPW.
- Part IX planning permission has been lodged with Dublin City Council for a change of use of the premises.
Operation Citizen
- Operation Citizen is the Garda operation to reassure the citizens, visitors and the business community in Dublin City Centre that it is a safe place in which to visit, socialise, conduct business and enjoy its amenities.
- The aim of this operation is to deliver an enhanced high visibility policing presence in Dublin City Centre on a daily basis.
- On a daily basis there are in excess of 20 dedicated Gardaí on foot / mountain bike patrols, supported by 12 mobile patrols (24 members) from Pearse Street, Store Street, Bridewell and Kevin Street Garda Stations.
- There are in excess of 100 Gardaí deployed to patrol Dublin City Centre each weekend.
- 8 Gardaí assigned to this initiative full time and are specifically patrolling along the Boardwalk, Quays and environs every day 4pm – 4am supported by 30 additional Gardaí deployed on beat patrols in City Centre Friday, Saturday, Sunday evening supported by 5 Regional Armed patrols (10 members).
- The operation provides in excess of 500 additional hours policing each week to Dublin City Centre.
- The Garda National Public Order Unit (25 personnel on mobile patrols), when deployed, provide additional tactical and operational support to frontline personnel.
- Members of the Garda Mounted, Garda Dog Unit and DMR Roads Policing Unit support Operation Citizen by way of high additional visibility beats and patrols.
Operation Saul
- Introduced in January 2022, Operation Saul is a complimentary operation to Operation Citizen, focused on public transport networks in the DMR.
- Operation Saul involves the effective management and planned delivery of all working resources in the DMR to ensure the delivery both an overt and covert policing response on board Bus, Luas, Dart and Train services to effectively tackle anti-social behaviour, public order and criminal activity, on a daily basis.
32. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will move to overturn the injunction on the employment regulation order in relation to the security industry, which has not received an ERO in three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43601/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 24 August 2022 my Department was informed that the High Court had granted an Injunction prohibiting the commencement of the proposed Statutory Instrument giving effect to the new Employment Regulation Order for the Security Industry that was to apply from 29 August 2022.
My officials are in the process of seeking legal advice on the matter.
33. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress that has been made on the review of eligibility for the insolvency payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43712/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials are continuing to examine policy and legislative options to develop a mechanism through which a competent authority may determine that a state of insolvency arises, without requiring a formal wind-up process, and that monies due to employees may be claimed by them from the Social Insurance Fund.
Engagement with the relevant internal and external stakeholders is ongoing. The priority is to find a solution for employees who are in the situation where their employer has ceased to trade without engaging in any formal wind-up process.
However, there are challenging issues to be addressed including the manner in which the insolvency of the employer can be verified in the absence of any wind-up procedure. Potential impacts on bankruptcy and company law and safeguarding the Social Insurance Fund must also be considered. Legislative amendments will be necessary.
I wish to assure you resolving the complex matters involved remains a priority for the Department.
34. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a planned pay increase for workers in the security industry sector will proceed; the position regarding an employment regulation order in respect of this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43758/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 24 August 2022 my Department was informed that the High Court had granted an Injunction prohibiting the commencement of the proposed Statutory Instrument giving effect to the new Employment Regulation Order for the Security Industry that was to apply from 29 August 2022.
My officials are in the process of seeking legal advice on the matter.
35. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is giving active consideration to equalising rates of the national minimum wage for young workers under 20 years of age. [43766/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Low Pay Commission (LPC) previously undertook a review of the sub-minima or ‘youth rates’ as part of its work programme and recommended, in 2017, abolishing the training rates and simplifying the youth rates by moving to age-related as opposed to experience-based rates. The LPC's recommendations were accepted by Government and were introduced as part of the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2018. The LPC commissioned research by the ESRI and consulted widely on this matter before making their recommendations.
Earlier this year I requested the LPC to again examine the issues around retaining or removing the youth rates and to make recommendations on the subject. To inform its work, the LPC has asked the ESRI to conduct background research on this issue under the terms of the LPC-ESRI Research Partnership Agreement.
The terms of reference for this study are currently being agreed between the LPC and the ESRI. The LPC’s report and recommendations on sub-minimum rates are expected during 2023.
While the issue of sub-minimum youth rates is being considered, the Government will continue to be guided by the recommendations of the LPC with regard to any future changes in the National Minimum Wage.
36. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the support granted by Enterprise Ireland for an organisation (details supplied); if Enterprise Ireland's policies and due diligence processes are being reviewed given the allegations made concerning the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43821/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe company in question has received support of €800,000 from Enterprise Ireland.
There are robust procedures in place in Enterprise Ireland to ensure that due diligence is undertaken in advance of approving public monies to companies thus ensuring the best value for the dispersal of public monies by the State.
Enterprise Ireland’s policies and processes are regularly audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General and internal audits are also undertaken at regular intervals to ensure that Enterprise Ireland is in compliance with best practice.
37. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps that he is taking to fast-track the processing of critical skills employment permits relating to healthcare professionals for the nursing home sector. [43901/22]
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, in circumstances where there are no suitably qualified Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work and that the shortage is a genuine one. The system is managed through the use of lists designating highly skilled and ineligible occupations.
On 14 June 2021, following a review of the employment permit occupation lists, changes to the employment permit system were announced, to address skills and labour shortages in the healthcare and nursing home sector. Following this review, the occupation of Nursing Auxiliary or Assistant (Health Care Assistant) in hospital/nursing home settings became eligible for a General Employment Permit from that date. As the occupation of Health Care Assistant is not on the Critical Skills Occupations List it is not eligible for a Critical Skills Employment Permit unless the remuneration on offer is €64,000 per annum or more.
As regards processing times, following the implementation of an internal plan of action which increased resources and implemented more efficient methods of processing applications, the Employment Permits Unit has reduced the number of applications awaiting processing from about 11,000 in January 2022 to about 2,836 today, despite further strong demand in 2022. As new staff were trained processing times have fallen from 21 weeks to 4-5 weeks depending on the permit type. My Department plans to maintain processing times for all applications at approximately this current level, on the assumption that demand remains at current levels.
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.
39. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if applications by companies (details supplied) will be reviewed and expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44038/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that on 28th September 2021, 26th November 2021 and 6th September 2022, the General Employment Permit renewal applications for the four persons concerned (in the details supplied) were refused.
In each instance, the applicant was informed of the refusal reasons and of their right to request a review of the refusal decision within 28 days from the date of issue of the refusal letter. In two of the cases an appeal was received, but after the 28 day period in which an appeal must be submitted, and therefore they could not be considered. The applicant was informed in each case of this decision. Regarding the other two cases the timeframe in which one appeal could be submitted has expired, while in the other case, it is still possible for the applicant to request a review of the refusal decision.
A request for a review of a refusal decision must be completed on the prescribed review form and this is available on the Department’s website through this link:- enterprise.gov.ie/en/publications/publication-files/review-of-decision-form-rod002-18.pdf.
The refusal to grant an employment permit does not preclude an applicant from submitting another application for an employment permit. Such an application should comply with all of the legislative requirements for the particular employment permit type.
It must be noted that due to the length of time from the expiry of the original permits in respect of two of the individuals, renewal applications cannot be considered, therefore new General Employment Permit applications are required to be submitted. A third application was incorrectly submitted as a renewal application but should always have been a new General Employment Permit application.
Under employment permit legislation 90% of the fee paid is refunded if an application is either withdrawn or refused. Applicants are advised to request a refund in respect of these three cases, by completing and returning the mandate form which will facilitate the processing of the refund.
A checklist document has been prepared to assist applicants when applying for a General Employment Permit specifically for the role of a horticultural worker and this document can be accessed on the Department’s website through the following link:- enterprise.gov.ie/en/publications/publication-files/checklist-for-horticultural-meat-dairy-general-employment.pdf.
It is important to note however that the role of a horticultural worker is subject to a quota and once the quota of 1,000 permits introduced last year has been reached no further permits will issue for this role. All applications received are dealt with in order of date of receipt, so the companies concerned are advised to submit new General Employment Permit application for this role as soon as possible.
Information in relation to each permit type, the requirement to complete a Labour Market Needs Test and a FAQ document which answers the majority of common questions is also available on the Department’s website and can be accessed through this link: enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/workplace-and-skills/employment-permits/.
40. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide the most recent data on the level of IDA-supported jobs, by county; the number of additional jobs created since the formation of the Government, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44091/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of IDA Ireland jobs created since 2020 in each County is outlined in the attached Annual Employment Survey 2021 spreadsheet.
In the first half of 2022, IDA Ireland, the inward investment agency of the Irish Government reported significant investment growth, returning FDI employment creation plans to above the pre-pandemic 2019 record levels, despite a continuing challenging global environment.
155 investments were won, with associated employment potential of over 18,000 jobs, up 9% on the same time in 2021. 73 were new name investments.
IDA Ireland has worked hard to create a welcome environment for FDI in all parts of the country and the strong regional spread of jobs and investment to date demonstrates government policy with 73 of the 155 investments won, being outside of Dublin. IDA Ireland’s objective is to see long-term sustainable jobs and work that pays better, in every regional location in Ireland.
Notwithstanding the serious global challenges and uncertainties on the path ahead, FDI is well placed to remain a vital contributor to Ireland’s prosperity and future success. Threats remain from a resurgence of Covid-19, the high level of risk and uncertainty in global markets, despite improvements in the global outlook. Volatile markets, the future trajectory of the Russia-Ukraine war, inflation and monetary policy, ongoing disruption to global supply chains, UK-EU tensions and geopolitical developments. Therefore, IDA Ireland never takes this investment for granted and will continue to work hard to remain an attractive location for investment in the years to come.
41. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide the most recent data on the level of Enterprise Ireland-supported jobs, by county; the number of additional jobs created since the formation of the Government, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44092/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe latest 2021 job creation figures for Enterprise Ireland assisted firms shows an employment increase across all economic sectors. These positive jobs figures saw increases in employment across all regions in Ireland with, for example, employment increasing by 9% in the North-West and by 7% in the South-East. In total, 68% of new jobs created were outside of Dublin, with particularly strong jobs growth reported in Life Sciences (14%), Business Services (12%) and Digital Technology (10%).
In total, 20,342 new jobs were created in 2021 by companies assisted by EI, resulting in a net job increase of 11,911 when job losses are taken into account. Total employment by companies assisted by Enterprise Ireland in 2021 was 207,894.
The 2021 job figures per county and the gross number of jobs created in 2020 and 2021 per county are outlined in the tables below.
|
Number of Jobs Supported |
2021 |
|
Gross New Jobs Created |
2020 |
2021 |
Total 2020 and 2021 |
|
Carlow |
3,500 |
|
Carlow |
319 |
524 |
843 |
|
Cavan |
6,506 |
|
Cavan |
280 |
338 |
618 |
|
Clare |
4,286 |
|
Clare |
493 |
545 |
1,038 |
|
Cork |
24,962 |
|
Cork |
2,309 |
2,339 |
4,648 |
|
Donegal |
4,209 |
|
Donegal |
261 |
370 |
631 |
|
Dublin |
66,704 |
|
Dublin |
6,216 |
6,562 |
12,778 |
|
Galway |
8,122 |
|
Galway |
555 |
1,056 |
1,611 |
|
Kerry |
4,598 |
|
Kerry |
206 |
434 |
640 |
|
Kildare |
9,098 |
|
Kildare |
372 |
507 |
879 |
|
Kilkenny |
4,960 |
|
Kilkenny |
255 |
578 |
833 |
|
Laois |
1,886 |
|
Laois |
201 |
198 |
399 |
|
Leitrim |
622 |
|
Leitrim |
23 |
87 |
110 |
|
Limerick |
9,141 |
|
Limerick |
890 |
980 |
1,870 |
|
Longford |
2,262 |
|
Longford |
190 |
129 |
319 |
|
Louth |
6,521 |
|
Louth |
459 |
745 |
1,204 |
|
Mayo |
4,862 |
|
Mayo |
247 |
502 |
749 |
|
Meath |
7,510 |
|
Meath |
532 |
740 |
1,272 |
|
Monaghan |
5,579 |
|
Monaghan |
244 |
548 |
792 |
|
Offaly |
4,249 |
|
Offaly |
176 |
350 |
526 |
|
Roscommon |
1,684 |
|
Roscommon |
81 |
154 |
235 |
|
Sligo |
1,966 |
|
Sligo |
116 |
371 |
487 |
|
Tipperary |
6,287 |
|
Tipperary |
638 |
735 |
1,373 |
|
Waterford |
6,519 |
|
Waterford |
807 |
659 |
1,466 |
|
Westmeath |
3,019 |
|
Westmeath |
185 |
261 |
446 |
|
Wexford |
5,024 |
|
Wexford |
232 |
355 |
587 |
|
Wicklow |
3,818 |
|
Wicklow |
209 |
275 |
484 |
|
Total |
207,894 |
|
Total |
16,496 |
20,342 |
36,838 |
42. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if legal counsel engaged by his Department has completed a gap analysis regarding the International Labour Organization Convention No. 190; and if he intends to publish this analysis. [44238/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland is committed to ratifying Convention C190. The Department engaged legal counsel as part of the its consideration of the ratification of ILO Convention 190, Violence and Harassment, and does not propose to publish the legal advice received. Based on the legal advice, it is not anticipated that supplementary legislation will be necessary for the ratification of this Convention.
43. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if measures to alleviate the recruitment crisis in home care will be implemented urgently to help reduce waiting lists and to meet demand; when a decision to remove home care workers from the ineligible occupation list for those outside the EEA will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44247/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials of my Department are actively engaged with the Department of Health in relation to recruitment challenges for the homecare sector and my Department is a member of the Cross Departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group chaired by the Department of Health to consider the recruitment and retention challenges faced by the sector.
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 Group provides a forum for agreement on strategic approaches to address these workforce challenges in the sector and will develop a set of recommendations for the Minister of Health's consideration outlining the Group’s key findings and a proposed action plan to support implementation of these recommendations.
Recent changes to the occupations lists for employment permits did not recommend removal of the occupation of care worker/home carers from the Ineligible Occupations List at that time. Evidence suggested the employment terms and conditions are factors in the recruitment challenges faced by the sector.
Changes to the employment permit occupations lists are made where there are no suitable Irish/EEA nationals available, development opportunities are not undermined, genuine skills shortage exists rather than a recruitment or retention problem and Government education, training and economic development policies are supported.
My Department continues to review the employment permits system in light of changing labour market circumstances. Submissions will be invited from sector representative bodies and interested parties via the Public Consultation Form which will be accessible on the Department’s website throughout the consultation period when the next Review of the Occupational Lists commences.
My Department chairs the Economic Migration Interdepartmental Group to oversee the review process which includes membership drawn from senior officials of key departments including the Department of Health and other key Departments such as the Department of Social Protection. The aim of the Group is to promote an integrated approach to addressing labour and skills shortages being experienced in the economy. This includes assessing proposals received through the public consultation for changes the Occupations Lists. The Department of Social Protection plays a role in the review process through its provision of advice on the uptake of its tailored employment services by employers and can provide evidence of sectoral engagement in its job fairs and other recruitment processes and initiatives aimed at sourcing suitable candidates for vacancies reported.
