Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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193. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permit applications for the homecare sector received since the scheme opened in January 2023; the number of work permits issued; the number of applications returned at initial applications pre-check stage; the number of other applications rejected; the number of applications currently in processing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18222/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Employment Permits system is designed to attract highly skilled workers from outside the EEA to Ireland, to meet skills demand in the economy where those skills can’t be accessed through the resident labour force.

A quota of 1,000 General Employment Permits for the role of care workers and home carers was introduced in December 2022. In March this year, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke approved an extension of a further 1000 General Employment Permits to this quota to help alleviate labour shortages in this important area. The role of care worker and home carer is eligible for a General Employment Permit with a minimum salary requirement of €30,000.

The table below shows the total number of Employment Permits Issued, Refused, Appealed, and withdrawn in the years 2023, 2024 and up to the 8th of April 2025 in respect of the home care sector.