The Irish government recently amended its ineligible occupations list for employment permits and increased quotas for some professions.

Key Points:

  • Most construction sector jobs are now eligible for General Employment Permits.
  • Dispensing Opticians are now eligible for General Employment Permits.
  • Authorities have allotted 350 General Employment Permits for hospitality managers.
  • Social workers are now eligible for Critical Skills Employment Permits.
  • Authorities increased the permit quotas for existing occupations in the horticulture, meat and dairy industries.

Additional Information: Current processing dates for employment permits can be found here. Ireland reviews and updates the critical skills and ineligible occupation lists twice a year. Changes to the lists were made based on labor market conditions, submissions from relevant stakeholders and the current COVID-19 situation.

BAL Analysis: The decision to remove some occupations from the ineligible occupations list and increase quotas for some professions is intended to make it easier for companies to hire foreign workers in certain positions and alleviate labor shortages across the country.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

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