Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 November 2025
62. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment further to the recent consultation on the review of employment permits occupation lists, when the results of the review will be published; the number of critical skills employment permits approved to date in 2025; the breakdown of the categories, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61766/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland's employment permits system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills or labour shortages in the State in the short to medium term. This objective must be balanced by the need to ensure that there are no suitably qualified Irish or EEA nationals available to undertake the work and that the shortage is genuine.
The system is managed through the operation of the Critical Skills Occupation List and the Ineligible Occupations List that set out skills that are in high demand or employments that are not eligible for consideration for an employment permit.
The Occupations Lists are subject to periodic review which includes a public consultation inviting submissions from interested stakeholders to provide their observations and experiences for changes, based on evidence. Receipt of submissions to the current review which I launched earlier this year closed on Friday, 19th of September. Officials of my department are currently engaging with other government departments with responsibility for various sectors of employment to consider these submissions and the evidence provided and will prepare a report with recommendations in the coming months.
Set out below is data gathered in regards to the number of critical skills employment permits approved to date in 2025; the breakdown of the categories, in tabular form:
|
Critical Skills Employment Permit |
|
|
A - Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing |
37 |
|
B - Mining & Quarrying |
13 |
|
C - All Other Manufacturing |
277 |
|
C - Manufacture of Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals |
276 |
|
C - Manufacture of Computers, Electronics & Optical Equipment |
251 |
|
C - Manufacture of Food, Drink & Tobacco |
114 |
|
C - Manufacture of Medical Devices |
115 |
|
D - Electricity & Gas & Air Conditioning Supply |
184 |
|
E - Water Supply - Sewerage Waste Management & Remedial Activities |
52 |
|
F - Construction |
602 |
|
G - Wholesale & Retail Trade |
144 |
|
H - Transport & Storage |
72 |
|
I - Accommodation & Food Services Activities |
87 |
|
J - Information & Communication Activities |
2,198 |
|
K - Financial & Insurance Activities |
1,189 |
|
L - Real Estate Activities |
18 |
|
M - All other Professional, Scientific & Technical Activities |
357 |
|
M - Professional, Scientific & Technical Activities of Head Offices, Management Consultancy Services |
242 |
|
N - Administrative & Support Service Activities |
38 |
|
O - Public Administration & Defence |
32 |
|
P - Education |
116 |
|
Q - Health & Social Work Activities |
2,288 |
|
R - Arts, Entertainment and Recreation |
37 |
|
S - Other Service Activities |
655 |
|
No Sector Entered |
43 |
|
Grand Total |
9,437 |
