Tánaiste announces changes to the Work Permit Scheme

New permits will only issue where an Irish or EEA national is not available to do the job

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Harney, T.D. today (4 December, 2001) announced the introduction of new Work Permit arrangements designed to ensure that employers offer first choice of available jobs to Irish or other EEA nationals.

From 2 January, 2002 the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment will no longer accept applications for new Work Permits unless they are accompanied by a letter from FÁS confirming that all reasonable efforts have been made by the employer to find an Irish or other EEA national to fill the vacancy on offer.

Work Permit applications received before the 2 January, 2002 will be subjected to a closer level of scrutiny and employers may be asked to show more clearly the efforts they have made to recruit staff locally.

Making the announcement, the Tánaiste said "I have decided to introduce these new measures because I believe that the operation of the Work Permit facility should reflect prevailing labour market conditions. This has not been the case in recent months and, in fact, we had reached a situation where applications for Work Permits were continuing to increase despite recent job losses and the generally acknowledged prospects for a slower rate of growth in the economy."

The Tánaiste stressed that a key priority for her Department in implementing the new arrangements would be to ensure that the Work Permit scheme operated in a way that was both flexible and responsive to the genuine needs of employers. "We must tighten up the permit scheme without unfairly penalising those employers who have a genuine difficulty in sourcing particular skills locally," she said.

The Tánaiste emphasised that her Department would continue to facilitate renewal of Work Permits by employers in respect of existing employees. "I can reassure such personnel that their positions are not in jeopardy as a result of the new arrangements," she said.

The new arrangements will not apply to Work Permits for professional medical personnel.

A new annual fee of €400 will apply to all Work Permit applications received by the Department on or after 2 January, 2002.

The Working Visa/Work Authorisation scheme which facilitates the recruitment of professional staff in the areas of IT, Nursing and Construction will not be affected.

For further information, please contact Gerry Donnelly, Press Officer, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. TEL: 01 631 2220 or 087 8112378

Notes for Editors

A copy of an advertisement to appear in national newspapers over the next few days is as follows:

PRESS Advertisement

Notice to Employers

Changes to the Work Permit Scheme

The Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment wishes to advise employers of the following new arrangements for the processing of Work Permit applications:

New Applications

1. As and from 2^nd of January, 2002 new applications for Work Permits from employers will not be accepted by the Department unless accompanied by a letter from FAS confirming that all reasonable efforts had been made by the employer, in co-operation with the FAS Employment Services, to fill the vacancy through the domestic or wider EEA labour market.
2. Work Permit applications already on hand, and those received before the 2^nd January, 2002, will be processed in the normal way but will be subjected to a closer level of scrutiny. Employers may, where necessary, be asked to show more clearly the efforts they have made to recruit staff from within the EEA area.
3. Where an employer applies for a Work Permit in respect of a former employee who has left the State this will constitute a new application.

Renewal of Work Permits

Where an employer applies to renew a Work Permit in respect of an existing employee, this will be facilitated. The requirement to engage with the FAS Employment Services will not be applied in such cases.

Medical Personnel

The new arrangements will not apply to applications in respect of professional medical personnel.

Work Permit Fees

A new schedule of fees as set out below will apply to all Work Permit applications received by the Department on or after 2^nd January, 2002 :-

Work Permits Section,

Department of Enterprise Trade & Employment

Davitt House

65a Adelaide Road

Dublin 2