2026-02-19

8. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the status of the review of the critical skills occupations list and ineligible occupations list; whether the review will take into consideration the availability of housing in addition to the needs of the labour market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13201/26]

Ireland’s economic migration policy is designed to address verified and persistent skills shortages across the economy. The system is vacancy-led and managed through the critical skills occupations list and the ineligible occupations list, which the Department reviews on a regular basis. A new review of the occupation lists is under way. This began with an open public consultation, which closed on 19 September and attracted a broad range of submissions including from the construction and built environment sectors. As part of this review, we consider both the eligibility of occupations and, where relevant, the need for quotas. Previous reviews have already made a significant number of construction-related roles eligible for permits, reflecting the importance of supporting increased housing delivery. For this review, the Department has worked closely with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to ensure the employment permits system aligns with the national effort to expand housing supply. This collaboration focuses on identifying pathways for occupations that are essential to improving Ireland’s housing output. More broadly, when assessing changes to the lists, we take into account not only labour market evidence but also wider whole-of-government collaborations. This includes the impact inward migration may have on housing demand, transport, health and other public services. The economic migration interdepartmental group has convened and considered the evidence of the Department’s inputs. The Department is finalising the outcome of the overall review and we expect to publish the updated occupation lists in the coming month. I remain committed to ensuring the employment permits system continues to be responsive, evidence based and supportive of key national priorities, including the delivery of housing.

I would appreciate clarity on some specific points. The Minister of State said a new list will be published next month. I assume that means quotas will be allocated to various sectors. He also said that when deciding those quotas, the Department will give consideration to other factors including housing and access to services. What precisely does "take into account" mean? We know about the pressures, in particular on the housing market. We also know that the only way we are going to increasing housing demand is through having international workers. There is a balance to be struck here. We know that in many areas there is a huge housing pressure. Some people who have come here on employment visas have ended up in desperate housing need and desperate housing conditions because their employers have not provided that or arranged that. In other areas, huge pressure has been put on the local private rental market because international workers have taken that up. Will the Minister of State clarify what exactly he means when he says "take account of"? How will that be a deciding factor in allocating quotas?

Again, I thank the Deputy for the points he has raised. Targeted migration is essential for sectors, such as housing. It does not worsen the housing challenge that we are presented with. Through controlled and skilled-based migration into sectors such as construction, engineering and housing delivery, it directly increases our housing supply. That is reflective of the example where access to qualified tradespeople and technical specialists for housing completion will be a positive. Last year, over 2,000 permits were issued in the construction sector. That was a 47% increase on 2024. That is reflective in the completions. We have had over 36,000 new housing completions. These are record numbers. It is a 20% increase in housing supply from 2024. It is important to reflect that without those tradespeople and permits, our housing completions would slow down. It is having a positive impact regarding where we place these skilled labour workers.

I do not dispute anything the Minister of State said. When deciding what level of a quota any given sector is having beyond the construction sector, he said that his Department takes into account housing need and housing availability. How does the Department take this into account? On the one hand, we need international workers to help us build the homes that we need but, on the other, we have a housing shortage. When the population of a given area is substantially increased through any means, that is going to add pressure. How do those things balance out? The Cathaoirleach Gníomhach and I come from a county that has a large agrifood sector, no more than the Minister of State's constituency. We know the value of international workers but we also know the benefits of companies providing housing and ensuring housing is in place for workers before they come because that makes integration and the life experience of those who are coming on permits and those who are already in the community much better. When that does not happen, it creates huge problems for housing demand locally. How precisely is housing need taken into account when deciding quotas?

We look at it through an interdepartmental group. We identify our domestic talent within certain specific areas in terms of where the skills needs are. My Department engages extensively with the Department of further and higher education, the National Skills Council and the skills and labour market research unit. We ensure that every recommendation on the occupations list is paired with where our domestic supply strategies are. That is across construction, ICT, healthcare and advanced manufacturing. We ensure the allocations we provide help to plug the gaps today, while we build up long-term strategies within the Irish capacity and educational system. It is about in one sense to manage carefully the balance between safeguarding our competitiveness, protecting our growth model and delivering for key sectors and our communities.