Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2026
282. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the assessment that has been undertaken regarding the impact of critical skills employment permit thresholds on wage levels, housing demand and labour market competition for younger workers. [31889/26]
View answerIreland’s employment permits system supports enterprise growth and economic activity, and is designed to strike an appropriate balance between facilitating access to international workers in key, high demand roles while maintaining safeguards for those in the domestic and EEA workforce.
The system targets skills shortages in sectors critical to competitiveness and growth by prioritising highly skilled occupations such as those in the science, medical, ICT, and engineering fields. Roles that are sufficiently served well through availability of workers in the domestic/EEA labour market pool are included on the Ineligible Occupations List.
The employment permits system is grounded in legislation that sets clear and objective criteria for minimum salary thresholds, qualifications, and the eligibility of occupations. These criteria ensure that permits are issued only where there is a demonstrable shortage and that the system remains fair, transparent, and responsive to Ireland’s labour market pressures while protecting the employment opportunities of those already in the State with the requisite skills.
Additionally, the recent increases to the minimum remuneration thresholds for employment permits also aims to improve the attractiveness of Ireland as a location for those with requisite skills in critical roles, recognising their valued contribution to the economy.
My Department takes an integrated approach to addressing labour and skills shortages and informing policy development by keeping eligible roles under review. The review process is a delicate balancing act, informed by labour market data, vacancy and earnings trends, and analysis from bodies such as the SOLAS Skills and Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU), and the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN). The reasoning and decision-making process in determining changes is overseen by the Interdepartmental Group on Economic Migration Policy which includes representatives of key policy Government Departments, including the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The Employment Permits Minimum Annual Remuneration – Outcome of the Roadmap Review 2025 was published in December 2025. This sets out the policy rationale, evidence basis, and the revised phased roadmap for implementation of the minimum salary thresholds applicable across the employment permits system. The review was undertaken in response to a range of structural changes in the labour market since minimum salary thresholds were last comprehensively updated, including changes to average earnings, rising costs of living and of doing business, and changing labour market dynamics. The review was also informed by a public consultation process which received over 150 submissions from employers, permit holders, trade unions and representative bodies, the views of which were carefully considered in shaping the review outcome.
Sufficient remuneration thresholds operate as a key protection, ensuring that the recruitment of non-EEA nationals does not place downward pressure on wages or conditions, or undermine employment opportunities or career progression for those just entering, or already in the domestic workforce. Indexation linking employment permit salary thresholds to changes in average weekly earnings, will be integral to ensuring that these thresholds remain effective into the future.
The broad objective of these policy instruments ensures that the employment permits system continues to support enterprise needs while protecting employment standards and preserving the integrity of the wider labour market.
