194. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of general employment permits, critical skills employment permits, and associated appeal applications received in each of the years 2023 to 2025 and to data in 2026; the number of application approvals and rejections in the same period; the current average processing times for general employment permits, critical skills employment permits and employment permit appeal applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45631/26]

Ireland operates a managed employment permits system, which seeks to maximise the benefits of economic migration while minimising disruption to Ireland’s labour market. The system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills and/or labour shortages required to develop and support enterprise for the benefit of our economy. However, this objective must be balanced by the need to ensure that no suitably qualified Irish or EEA nationals are available to undertake the work and that the shortage is genuine.

The Employment Permits system is administered in accordance with the Employment Permits Act 2024 and associated Regulations. Employment permits can only be granted where all of the relevant statutory criteria and legislative requirements are met.

The tables below set out the number of employment permit applications received, approved and refused, across all permit types, for the period 2023 to 2026 (to date), and the number of appeals received over the same period.

The data presented across the three tables reflect the different datasets held by the Department in respect of;

(1) employment permit applications

(2) decisions made on those applications, and

(3) appeal applications

It should be noted that the number of decisions each year does not directly correspond to the number of applications received in that year, as applications may be carried over and decided in the following year. Additionally, the information does not capture the number of applications that are withdrawn from the Employment Permits online system, annually.

1. Employment Permit Applications

2. Decisions made

3. Appeals

Processing Times

My Department has implemented a range of measures to improve processing times, including the deployment of additional resources and the adoption of more efficient processing methods to ensure the system remains responsive to sustained demand across all permit types.

Currently, critical skills applications are processed in 10 working days, while new General Employment Permit applications are processed in 33 working days. These times are broadly in line with processing times at the beginning of the year, despite a strong demand for permits across the period. Appeals are being completed within 5 months.

Current processing dates are published on the Department’s website: enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/workplace-and-skills/employment-permits/current-application-processing-dates/. Also, the Employment Permits Online Self-Service Portal provides real-time updates on the status of individual employment permit applications.

My Department continues to monitor processing times closely and remains focused on ensuring that the system is efficient, modern, and capable of meeting the needs of a dynamic labour market.

In addition, a dedicated mailbox for Oireachtas members is also available at tdepqueries@enterprise.gov.ie.