Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2026
181. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the status of the review of the critical skills occupations list and ineligible occupations list; whether the review will take into consideration the availability of housing in addition to the needs of the labour market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30068/26]
View answerAccess to employment permits is prioritised through the occupations lists identifying in-demand, highly skilled occupations (Critical Skills Occupations List (CSOL)) and those for which a ready source of labour is available (Ineligible Occupations List (IOL)).
The lists are periodically reviewed to ensure that the system is responsive to changes in both economic circumstances and labour market conditions. The review process is overseen by the Interdepartmental Group (IDG) on Economic Migration Policy which facilitates an integrated approach to addressing and assessing labour and skills shortages in the longer term.
My Department works with other Government Departments through the IDG and discussion is mindful of our current economic climate, the tight labour market, and the potential impact changes to eligibility for permits may have on wages in a particular sector. More broadly, through leadership of this group, my Department considers the implications of widening the scope of the employment permits system, and the impact that could have on many factors including accommodation, cost of living, and constraints across healthcare, childcare and other public services. Consideration is also given to other demographic pressures, key Government priorities, the green transition, and sustainable management of non-EEA national’s economic migration to Ireland.
The current review of the employment permit occupations lists examined a broad range of occupations and sectors where recruitment challenges and labour market pressures have been identified. The findings of the review are currently being finalised and will be reported shortly, with any approved changes to the occupations lists to be implemented through amendment to the relevant regulations.
While housing availability is not a formal criterion in determining eligibility for employment permits, employment permit policy is developed within a wider Government framework that recognises the interdependencies between labour supply, housing delivery and infrastructure capacity. This alignment will continue to be kept under review as part of ongoing cross Government work on workforce planning and housing delivery.
My Department will continue to review and refine the employment permits system to ensure that it meets labour market demands, supports enterprise and economic growth, and remains fair, responsive and aligned with Ireland’s wider economic and social needs. This approach will continue to align with cross-Government workforce and housing delivery planning to ensure that labour market interventions support, rather than constrain, housing supply outcomes.
