Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
430. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of general employment permits issued for home care assistants working in nursing homes each year form 2019-2025 inclusive, in tabular form. [6049/26]
View answer431. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the current number of workers in nursing homes employed under a general employment permit. [6050/26]
View answer432. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of general employment permits issued for home care assistants working in home care each year form 2019-2025 inclusive, in tabular form. [6051/26]
View answer433. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the current number of workers in home care employed under a general employment permit. [6052/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 430 to 433, inclusive, together.
Healthcare Assistants and Care Workers play a vital role in our health and social care system. They deliver essential frontline support to older people, people with disabilities, and those with complex needs, whether in nursing homes or in the wider community. Their contribution enables those with health needs to live with dignity and independence every day, and the Government recognises the significant value they add in terms of sustaining our care infrastructure.
It is for this reason that the Government implemented measures to support recruitment in these roles including the removal of Healthcare Assistants (HCA) from the Ineligible Occupations List in 2021 and the introduction of a quota for care workers in 2022 to ensure that providers can continue to deliver safe and high quality care.
The table below provides a detailed annual breakdown distinguishing between nursing home HCAs (SOC 6141) and Care Workers (SOC 6145).
It should also be noted that while only 53 HCA General Employment Permits were issued in 2021, the Department received substantially more applications that year; however, due to the significant increase in permit applications that year, the majority were not processed until 2022. This is reflected in the significant increase in approvals in that year.
|
- |
- |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Soc Code |
Role |
Permit Type |
New Permit |
New Permit |
Renewal |
New Permit |
Renewal |
New Permit |
Renewal |
New Permit |
Renewal |
New Permit |
Renewal |
New Permit |
Renewal |
|
6141 |
HCAs |
General Employment Permit |
|
|
|
53 |
|
2,848 |
1 |
2,721 |
70 |
2,423 |
1,552 |
1,327 |
1,694 |
|
6145 |
Care workers and Home Carers |
General Employment Permit |
4 |
10 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
11 |
5 |
438 |
3 |
806 |
23 |
757 |
163 |
