Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 December 2022
165. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he intends to revise current regulation and legislation regarding work permits and categories of critical skills in relation to teaching staff in primary and post primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59912/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State's employment permit system is vacancy-led and managed through the operation of the Critical Skills Occupations List and the Ineligible Occupations List which, respectively, prioritise specified in-demand, highly skilled professional roles and identify occupations for which a labour supply should be available in the EEA and so are ineligible for consideration for an employment permit.
The role of Teacher in either secondary or primary schools is currently eligible for the General Employment Permit. In order to ensure that job opportunities are made available to Irish and EEA nationals, employers must undertake a Labour Market Needs Test before a General Employment Permit can be issued.
The Government’s policy is that employment opportunities should, in the first instance, be offered to suitably skilled Irish and other EEA nationals and should only be offered to non-EEA nationals where no suitable candidate emerges from within the EEA to fill the vacancy. This policy fulfils our obligations under the Community Preference principles of membership of the EU.
In order to maintain the relevance of the lists to the needs of the economy and to ensure the employment permits system is aligned with current labour market intelligence, these lists undergo evidence-based reviews which are guided by research undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN), the Skills and the Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU) of my Department, SOLAS and by a public consultation.
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 Education which has policy responsibility for this sector.
The Department continues to keep the employment permits system under review in light of changing labour market circumstances. Outside of the full review process the Department continues to be in contact with other relevant policy departments to address particular challenges as they arise. The timing of the next Review of the Occupational Lists is being kept under consideration.
