Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 December 2025
179. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if an application for a general employment permit for a dairy farm assistant has been refused on the basis that the quota has been filled, if the application be treated as an existing application when the quota system has been reviewed and a new quota limit set, in view of the lengthy nature of the application process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70811/25]
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. I am advised that 84 applications have been refused this year as the quota for this role has been reached.
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.
There is no mechanism to place applications on hold once a quota has been exhausted. Once a new quota threshold has been introduced, a new application is required.
