Ireland's economic migration policy is designed to address verified and ongoing skills and labour shortages across the economy. The employment permits system is vacancy-led and is managed through the Critical Skills Occupations List (CSOL) and the Ineligible Occupations List, both of which are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure they remain responsive to labour market needs.
The employment permits system is intended to facilitate the recruitment of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals where shortages exist, but it is not a substitute for investment in the education, training and upskilling of the resident workforce. Any changes to the occupations lists must therefore be balanced with broader workforce development objectives and informed by robust labour market evidence.
Health care assistants are not included on the CSOL and are instead eligible for recruitment under the General Employment Permit route. Eligibility is determined through an evidence-based review process which assesses labour market shortages, skills requirements, strategic economic need and wider public policy considerations.
The General Employment Permit (GEP) provides employers in this sector with a pathway to recruit internationally, where labour shortages are demonstrated, and health care assistants continue to play a vital role in supporting the delivery of health and social care services. In contrast, the CSOL generally provides for degree-level professional roles, is accompanied by significantly higher minimum annual remuneration requirements, and requires the worker to hold a relevant third-level degree or equivalent qualification.
As such, Critical Skills Employment Permits are not the primary mechanism through which health and social care assistant shortages are addressed. Instead, the GEP continues to serve as the main pathway supporting workforce needs for these roles.
Employment permit policy is kept under constant review. Reviews of the occupations lists involve public consultation with stakeholders, consideration of research undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs and the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit in SOLAS, and engagement through the Economic Migration Interdepartmental Group, which includes representatives from key Government Departments.
These reviews take account not only of labour market evidence, educational outputs and sectoral training initiatives, but also wider whole-of-Government considerations, including infrastructure development capacity, healthcare provision and other public services. Any proposal to amend eligibility for a particular occupation must therefore be based on clear evidence of ongoing shortages and workforce needs.
While healthcare assistants were not recommended for inclusion on the Critical Skills Occupations List as an outcome the most recent review, this does not preclude the occupation from being considered in future reviews should labour market evidence indicate that such a change is warranted. My Department will continue to monitor labour market developments and engage with relevant stakeholders and Government Departments to ensure that the employment permits system remains responsive to identified skills and labour market needs.
I remain committed to ensuring that the employment permits system continues to be responsive, evidence-based, and aligned with key national priorities including, importantly, the provision of health and social care.
