Ireland Announces New Employment Permit Quotas for Dairy and Meat Sectors

The Irish government, represented by Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke and Minister of State for employment, small business and retail Alan Dillon, announced new employment permit quotas. These are designed to address labor shortages in the dairy and meat processing industries. Effective immediately, 850 permits are allocated for dairy farm assistants, while 1,000 are set aside for meat processing operatives.

The initiative aims to ensure that Ireland maintains a competitive and agile workforce, particularly in rural areas where the agri-food sector is a significant employer. Minister Peter Burke emphasized the importance of economic migration in filling skills gaps and ensuring employment stability. He stated that the decision to extend quotas was made after thorough engagement with sector stakeholders.

The government’s policy focuses on sourcing labor primarily from within Ireland, the EU, and other European Economic Area states. However, the need for additional permits has been recognized due to constraints in the agri-food labor market. Since the introduction of a pilot scheme in May 2018, a total of 5,425 permits have been issued under this program, reflecting the ongoing demand for labor in these sectors.

Minister Alan Dillon highlighted that the quota system aligns with government commitments to support the agri-food sector. He acknowledged the sector's vital role in employment, the broader economy, and trade. The quotas are intended to address immediate constraints and support long-term workforce planning in conjunction with sectoral representatives and policy departments.

Furthermore, an action plan will be developed to ensure strategic workforce planning and the creation of attractive workplace conditions. This plan is based on a strategic review of the meat sector and will outline deliverables required for future quota considerations.