Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 December 2025
370. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the total number of dairy farm assistants applications received since eligibility was first introduced in 2018, and for each subsequent year from 2019 to 2024, and from 1 January to the 30 November 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69840/25]
View answerIreland's employment permits system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills or labour shortages in the State in the short to medium term. This objective must be balanced by the need to ensure that there are no suitably qualified Irish or EEA nationals available to undertake the work and that the shortage is genuine.
The role of dairy farm assistant has been provided with a quota of 1,100 General Employment Permits since eligibility was first introduced in 2018. This quota was exhausted in November 2025.
Where a sector wishes to have a quota extended, or a role fully removed from the ineligible occupations list (i.e. not subject to a quota), evidence should demonstrate a continuing need for access to employment permits for the role, supported by the department with lead responsibility for the sector.
My department has received a submission from the agri-food sector with regard to the role of dairy farm assistant to the current review which closed to receipt of submissions on Friday, 19th of September. Consideration of submissions and evidence supporting changes is currently in progress including where occupations that currently have assigned quotas are undergoing review.
My Department is currently engaging with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to the eligibility for employment permits and quotas affecting the sector as part of this review. Final recommendations are expected to be published at the beginning of 2026.
The table below sets out the number of Employment Permit applications received for the role of Dairy Farm Assistants from 2018 to date in 2025.
These figures include all applications submitted for this role, including renewals, transfers, and other permit types, not just those subject to the annual quota.
|
Soc Code |
Soc Title |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
9111 |
Dairy Farm Assistants |
35 |
143 |
41 |
92 |
109 |
279 |
463 |
607 |
