Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2026
211. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the dates on which the critical skills occupation list has been updated since 2023; the changes made in each instance; and the timeframe for the next review of the list. [66303/26]
View answerThe Critical Skills Occupations List (CSOL) has been updated on four occasions since 2023 following reviews of the occupations lists for employment permits undertaken by my Department. The table below sets out the relevant statutory instruments, the roles added to the CSOL and the effective date:
|
Statutory Instrument |
Occupations added to the CSOL |
Effective date |
|
S.I. No. 213 of 2026, Employment Permits (Amendment) Regulations 2026 |
Agronomist, Construction Planner / Scheduler, Ophthalmic Optician, Intellectual Property Professionals, Geospatial Surveyor (including Land Surveyor and Geomatics Surveyor), Riggers (within the Games Industry) |
13th May 2026 |
|
S.I. No. 643, Employment Permits |
|
17th December 2025
|
|
(Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2025 |
Cardiac physiologist, Vascular |
|
|
technologists/physiologists, Gastro Intestinal |
|
|
|
technologists/physiologists, Respiratory physiologist, Optometrist |
17th December 2025 |
|
|
S.I. No. 64 of 2025, Employment Permits (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025 |
Town Planning Officer |
10th March 2025 |
|
S.I. No. 680 of 2023, Employment Permits (Amendment (No. 3) Regulations 2023 |
Professional Forester, Resource modelling, Earth observation and data analyst, Meteorologist, Operational Forecaster, Chemical Engineer, Project Engineer, BIM Manager, Commercial Manager, BIM Coordinator/Technician, Estimator |
20th December 2023 |
The occupations lists are maintained under periodic review by my Department to ensure that the employment permits system remains responsive to labour market needs and identified skills shortages.
No date has yet been determined for the next review of the Critical Skills Occupations List. Reviews are undertaken on a periodic basis, and the next review will be announced on my Department's website. In the interim, stakeholders who would like to engage in the next public consultation on the occupations lists may register their interest by contacting Register.economicmigration@enterprise.gov.ie.
