159. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Justice if he will alter the work permits scheme for healthcare assistants to lower the income thresholds, to allow them bring family members into the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6606/25]
Topics / Work Permits
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsWork Permits
275 questions from 82 TDs, between 22 January 2025 and 20 October 2026.
275
questions
270 written, 5 oral
82
TDs have asked
11
parties and groups
Independents counted together
6
departments asked
Questions per month
The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.
Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 3 |
| February 2025 | 13 |
| March 2025 | 13 |
| April 2025 | 7 |
| May 2025 | 31 |
| June 2025 | 16 |
| July 2025 | 22 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 26 |
| October 2025 | 7 |
| November 2025 | 18 |
| December 2025 | 11 |
| January 2026 | 16 |
| February 2026 | 16 |
| March 2026 | 12 |
| April 2026 | 21 |
| May 2026 | 8 |
| June 2026 | 15 |
| July 2026 | 13 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 3 |
| October 2026 | 4 |
Who asks, by party
The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
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25
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21
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14
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9
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9
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8
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8
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7
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
286. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans to increase the number of work permits for HGV mechanics beyond the quota of 200, as set out under Statutory Instrument No. 680/2023, considering the cap has already been exceeded and no further permits can be issued until further action is taken by the Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13165/25]
287. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permit applications for HGV mechanics that were refused by his Department since the quota of 200 permits, as set out under Statutory Instrument No. 680/2023, was reached; his views on whether there are now sufficient numbers of HGV mechanics in Ireland without the need to increase the quota; and if he will make a state…
288. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if applications for work permits for HGV mechanics who were refused due to the quota of 200, as set out under Statutory Instrument No. 680/2023, being reached can be accepted in a future round of work permits without the employer having to re-enter the 28-day advertising period and the 90-day deadline to get the applications submitted; a…
504. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total number of critical skills employment permits that have been granted for registered nurses, registered midwives, between 2020 to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10568/25]
506. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to review the refusal of the work permit renewal application for a person [details supplied]. [10605/25]
515. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to clarify a matter regarding work permits (details supplied). [10878/25]
516. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the timeframe for the processing of work permit applications for non-critical skills occupations. [10879/25]
517. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider a review of work permit policies to facilitate skilled workers from the United States who may be leaving due to cuts to state research and other policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11049/25]
219. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice if there is a visa pathway for a non-EEA national to work as an au pair in Ireland if they have previously been in the country on an English study visa (details supplied). [8344/25]
356. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total number of critical skills employment permits that have been granted between 2020 and 2024 and to date in 2025 for categories (details supplied), in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7228/25]
376. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is considering any changes to the ineligible list of occupations for employment permits such as the removal of farm workers from the list to address labour shortages in the agricultural sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7972/25]
18. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on work his Department has done in relation to reviewing the work permits scheme and its conditions on family reunification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6608/25]
50. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work visas granted in each of the years 2022, 2023 and 2024; the average length of time to process such applications, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6789/25]
54. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will review the work permits scheme for healthcare assistants, to allow healthcare assistants more easily apply for family reunification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6604/25]
61. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total number of critical skills employment permits applications refused in 2024; to detail the reasons provided for the refusal of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6810/25]
69. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total number of critical skills employment permits awarded in 2024; to detail the number awarded in each employment category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6809/25]
70. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to report on engagement he has had with employers, or their representatives, in relation to work permits for healthcare assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6607/25]
188. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of migrant workers on employment permits who have changed employer while remaining on their employment permit since the provision to do so was introduced as part of the Employment Permits Act 2024. [6914/25]
294. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consideration is currently being given to any form of work permit amnesty for employers who have inadvertently hired staff who have incorrect status, specifically in sectors which are currently struggling to source staff through the correct channels due to the labour shortage. [6057/25]
178. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to allow planning professionals from outside the EU to work in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5327/25]
248. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a decision on a visa application for a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [4579/25]
447. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if an employment permit will be granted to a person (details supplied). [1675/25]
991. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice when the permit for a person (details supplied) will be issued. [1130/25]
1061. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice if a person who is on Stamp 1G critical skills permit is allowed a grace period if made redundant or dismissed after six months' employment; the length of time that is the applicable grace period for the applicant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2084/25]