TD: Ongoing work permit delays are 'crippling the economy'
The Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Alan Dillon has said that general employment permits are being "turned around" in 19 business days.
He also claimed that it takes 12 business days to process a critical skills permit.
The minister was asked about the "huge delays" relating to work permits for international workers that are "crippling the economy" by Independent TD, Mattie McGrath in the Dáil today (June 19).
Deputy McGrath raised concerns about the delays, and referenced the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) in his comments.
He said: "Hard-working Irish businesses are trying to operate legally only to be choked by a lot of regulatory issues and a dysfunctional recruitment process. It is unbelievable.
"If a haulier in Tipperary in my constituency or anywhere else wants to hire a qualified driver from outside the EU, for example, South Africa, they must wade through a nine-stage bureaucratic minefield and deal with five different departments."
"This process can take up to two years, with costs racking up every step of the way. At the end of it, the driver may not even be allowed into the country," Deputy McGrath added.
Minister of State Dillon said that his department has responded to labour shortages reported by the haulage sector by making the role of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) driver eligible for a general employment permit without restriction.
He said: "As of June 16, 2025, my department is processing general employment permit applications received and critical skills permit applications received, with approximately 2,000 applications awaiting processing.
"Applications for HGV drivers were temporarily placed on hold in the first half of this year due to an external delay in the licence verification process."
"Until recently, there was an operational agreement that this department would verify the driving licences of HGV drivers before issuing an employment permit. However, following legal advice on this issue, the employment permits unit will no longer be verifying driving licences in that manner," the minister explained.
According to Minister of State Dillon, the government recognises the pressures faced by the licensed haulage sector, and is responding to those concerns.
He claimed that the government has made "significant progress" with an online employment permit system, and that it is delivering an effective and responsive system to provide benefits of our economic migration system.
Minister of State Dillon said: "Over the past three years, we have increased staff resources, streamlined internal processing and introduced the new online digital system.
"It is very user-friendly. General employment permits are being turned around in 19 business days, while critical skills permits are being turned around in just 12."
"That is significant progress. Since the new system was launched, more than 3,700 applications have been received and more than 3,100 permits have been issued," he added.
Deputy McGrath told the Dáil that he "did not believe those figures".
The TD said: "It is not just the hauliers; it is also agriculture and hoteliers trying to get people in. They pay the money and go through the system.
"It is so bureaucratic, and the minister is telling me it takes 19 days. That is simply not happening. It is not the case in Tipperary, certainly. People are not telling me lies."
Minister of State Dillon reaffirmed that the department's figures were accurate.
