Meat processors have wasted no time in applying for workers from non-EEA (European Economic Area) countries under the pilot scheme implemented this year – but dairy farmers and horticultural enterprises are in no rush, going by early figures.

According to a spokesperson from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, the earliest date that applications under the new regulations could be made was Monday, June 4.

This was due to the legislative requirement to advertise vacancies within Ireland and across the EU for a minimum period of two weeks.

On the other end of the scale, only four applications have been made for dairy farm assistants – while just a single application has been made for a horticultural worker.

These applications are currently being processed, the spokesperson added.

The statistical breakdown could potentially be put down to the seasonal nature of the dairy and horticulture sectors.

The Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys, announced changes to the Employment Permit Regulations – on a pilot basis – in order to make it easier for certain businesses in the agri-food sector to source workers from outside the EEA.

This scheme is the sole mechanism currently in place to facilitate the employment of migrant agricultural workers on General Employment Permits.

It is intended to address immediate labour shortages in the horticulture, dairy farm and meat processing sectors on an interim basis.

Additional permit quotas may be granted in response to actions taken by the sector to put in place strategies to source and retain labour supply from both the domestic and European labour markets and to invest in innovative technologies for the sector, according to the department.