358. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will provide a detailed statement on the pre-launch testing and validation process for the new online work permit application system, specifically addressing whether the system was tested under real-world load conditions; and if a parallel run was considered to mitigate risks, given the widespread login and access failures rep…
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
359. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the specific measures identified and implemented to resolve the root causes of the persistent login and access failures experienced by users of the new online work permit application system since its launch on 28 April 2025; and when a stable and fully functional system is expected to be operational for all users. [32201/25]
360. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of individuals that have lost their legal status or experienced employment disruption as a direct result of the system failures with the new online work permit application system since its launch on 28 April 2025; and what immediate steps are being taken by the Department to support and provide remedies for those affected…
361. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the current average response time for technical support queries related to the new online work permit application system; and what steps the Department is taking to ensure accountability and improve the timeliness of responses to user complaints and technical issues. [32203/25]
362. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will publish up-to-date statistics regarding the application backlogs, new applications lodged, and the number of complaints received and resolved concerning the new online work permit application system since its launch on 28 April 2025. [32204/25]
363. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the reason agents and users were not consulted prior to the roll out of the new online work permit application system; and the specific actions being taken to rebuild trust and improve stakeholder engagement in future digital transformations within the Department. [32205/25]
456. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he plans to increase the number of work permits for people working here in the caring professions given the shortage of staff in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29510/25]
473. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if the renewal of a general employment permit (details supplied) will be expedited given the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30672/25]
317. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of a change-of-employer work permit application for an individual (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28571/25]
318. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the investigations that have taken place into a service (details supplied) regarding the alleged breach of employment permit conditions in paying workers less than the permitted wage. [28774/25]
463. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Justice the status of a work permit renewal for an individual (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28570/25]
247. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current number of work permits allocated for motor/auto mechanics; the number therein of the car mechanic quota and of the HGV/bus mechanic quota that have been issued; if he has any plans to review those quotas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26746/25]
253. Deputy George Lawlor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if any flexibility is allowed in determining eligibility for an employment permit, in relation to the advertisement period of 28 days required under the labour market needs test; if each application is determined fully on its merits; if fully qualified and eligible applicants applying for positions that are needed in the economy can be …
254. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the process being put in place to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to "Examine ways to facilitate people who are on work permits to move jobs more easily and legally, while protecting the integrity of the immigration system"; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27573/25]
255. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures he is taking to address the delay with work permits issuing for HGV drivers; his response to a letter from an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27668/25]
369. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider introducing flexibility in the application of the labour market needs test for work permit applicants in the education sector, in particular in cases where a qualified and experienced teacher is already employed in a hard-to-fill position but is unable to reapply for a general employment permit due to a shortfall in…
380. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25752/25]
381. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people currently, and in each of the past five years, holding critical skills employment permits, by country of origin, by sector of employment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25775/25]
382. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people currently, and in each of the past five years, holding a general employment permit, by country of origin, by sector of employment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25776/25]
383. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people currently, and in each of the past five years, holding a dependent, partner, spouse employment permit, by country of origin, by sector of employment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25777/25]
384. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people currently, and in each of the past five years, holding a contract for employment permit, by country of origin, by sector of employment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25778/25]
385. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people currently, and in each of the past five years, holding a sports and cultural employment permit, by country of origin, by sector of employment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25779/25]
386. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people currently, and in each of the past five years, holding an intra company transfer employment permit, by country of origin, by sector of employment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25780/25]
387. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people currently, and in each of the past five years, holding an exchange agreement employment permit, by country of origin, by sector of employment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25781/25]
388. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people currently, and in each of the past five years, holding an internship employment permit, by country of origin, by sector of employment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25782/25]