20. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if as part of the 2025 review of the employment permit occupation lists published in May 2026, the Department considered the availability of housing and accommodation when assessing changes to the critical skills occupations list and other employment permit categories and if so, the manner in which housing capacity was factored into the review process and decision-making. [66914/26]

Access to employment permits is facilitated through the occupations lists, identifying highly skilled occupations with enduring shortages on the Critical Skills Occupations List. Roles already well served by the labour market, to which an employment permit cannot be granted, are outlined on the Ineligible Occupations List.

Employment permit policy is kept under constant review to ensure it remains responsive to labour market needs.  The review of the occupations lists process involves a public consultation inviting stakeholder submissions, consideration of research undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs and the Skills and the Labour Market Research Unit in SOLAS. The process is a delicate balancing act and is overseen by the Interdepartmental Group on Economic Migration Policy which includes representatives of key Government Departments including the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

These reviews take account of wider public policy considerations, including national strategies on housing supply, infrastructure capacity, and public service provision.  Adjustments made to widen eligibility or to restrict access to employment permits for certain occupations or sectors are based on evidence examined through this consultation process.

I announced the outcome of the most recent review in May 2026, giving approval for 32 changes to jobs now eligible for employment permits.  The review report can be accessed on the Department's website and is titled “Employment Permits Occupations Lists: Report of the Review 2025”.

While housing availability is not a formal criterion in determining eligibility for employment permits, employment permit policy is developed within a wider Government framework that recognises the interdependencies between labour supply, housing delivery and infrastructure capacity. This alignment will continue to be kept under review as part of ongoing cross-Government collaboration on workforce planning and housing delivery.

Successive national strategies and economic action plans prepared in recent years clearly reference the need to attract and retain skilled workers from across the globe to deliver on our national industry, infrastructure, and broader socio-economic goals.  My Department continues to review employment trends and refine the employment permits system to ensure that it supports our competitiveness within the global labour market, and in doing so continues to support enterprise and remains fair, responsive and aligned with Ireland’s wider economic and social needs.