The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) issued 3,291 work permits for the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector over the first ten months of 2024.

The latest data, published by the department, shows that 346 employment permits were granted during the month of October.

The sector was issued with some 412 permits during September and 272 in August.

February recorded the highest number of permits being issued at 591 permits, followed by 402 in July.

In order to work in Ireland, a non-European Economic Area (EEA) national, unless they are exempted, must hold a valid employment permit.

Between January and October, the department confirmed it issued a total of 33,105 work permits across all economic sectors, with 2,946 of that figure granted last month.

Health and social work is the sector with the highest number of permits (10,645) followed by information and communication activities (5,639) and agriculture, forestry and fishing.

According to the latest data, Dawn Meats Ireland had been issued 662 work permits in the first ten months of the year.

There were 226 permits granted in the period to Anglo Beef Processors Ireland Unlimited Company, 148 for Liffey Meats (Cavan), 124 for Rosderra Irish Meats and 111 issued to Kildare Chilling.

In the horticulture sector, Tiernaneill Mushrooms had been issued with 85 permits by the end of October, Tullow Mushroom Growers was granted 66 and Tyholland Mushrooms received 55.

New legislation reforming the employment permit system came into force last in September.

The Employment Permits Act 2024 includes a provision for a new seasonal employment permit, which allows non-EEA nationals to work for a maximum of seven months per calendar year in a seasonally recurrent employment.

DETE has said this provision will support agriculture and horticulture in addressing labour shortages; and will be renewable across multiple years for the set calendar season.

It is expected that a pilot for the new seasonal employment permits (SEPs) will run in 2025 focusing on the horticultural sector before being rolled out more generally.