1012. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will review the current 50:50 employment permits rule as it applies to the nursing home sector; if he will consider introducing the necessary legislative amendments to provide greater workforce flexibility for nursing homes experiencing recruitment difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56722/26]

Ireland’s employment permits system is designed to facilitate the targeted entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to address identified skills and labour shortages in the short to medium term. It is not intended to act as a substitute for, or a means of avoiding, the ongoing need to develop, upskill and fully utilise the resident workforce.

The system therefore seeks to maximise the benefits of economic migration while safeguarding the domestic and wider EEA labour market, ensuring that opportunities for Irish and EEA workers are protected and that identified shortages are both genuine and demonstrable.

The 50:50 rule is a key component of this framework which underpins Ireland’s obligations under the EU’s Union Preference principle and supports the Government’s broader employment creation strategy by encouraging balanced recruitment from domestic and EEA labour markets. The 50:50 rule requires that, at the time of application for an employment permit, 50% or more of the employees of the employer are Irish/EEA/Swiss/UK nationals.

Officials of my Department conducted a review of Ireland’s use of the 50:50 rule, the outcome of which recommended the creation of two new regulation-making powers in the Employment Permits Act 2024.

Following the review, Government approval has now been secured to prepare the General Scheme of a Bill to amend the relevant legislation.  The forthcoming amendments will consider how best to ensure that the employment permits system remains responsive to labour market needs, with particular regard to the health and social care sector, while continuing to uphold Ireland’s obligations and policy objectives.

Officials of my Department are actively developing the first stage of legislative requirements to implement changes to the 50:50 rule. Draft Heads for inclusion in a Bill that will give effect to the 50:50 changes have been commenced and are currently undergoing legal scrutiny. Given the 50:50 rule policy change was only recently approved by Government, the proposed Bill is expected to be on the Government Autumn Legislation Programme.

My Department remains committed to delivering these amendments and ensuring that the employment permits system continues to be responsive and aligned with key national priorities and changes in a dynamic labour market.