Access to non-EU labour for dairy farms is likely to be closed off for the busy spring period as the quota for work permits for the sector has been filled.

The work permits quota for meat processors is also filled.

Employment agencies that sought work permits for non-EU operators for the coming spring have confirmed that recent applications were rejected by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.

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When contacted by the Irish Farmers Journal, the Department pointed out that a quota of 350 permits had been put in place for dairy farm assistants and that all of these permits had been issued.

Similarly, a quota of 1,000 work permits had been put in place for meat processing operatives and all of these have also been issued.

In contrast to the dairy and meat processing sectors, just 523 of the 1,000 work permits allocated to the horticulture sector were taken up.

There was also a surplus of permits allocated to the pig industry. A quota of 250 permits was put in place for pig farm managers but just nine work permits were issued for this category.

A quota of 250 was allocated for pig farm operatives but only 108 work permits were issued to the sector. A quota of 350 work permits was allocated for butchers and de-boners but just 168 were issued.

Changes

Changes to the eligibility of occupations and the allocation of quotas is currently being reviewed by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.

“Officials are engaging with the policy departments for relevant sectors and will prepare a report with recommendations to the Minister by year end,” a Department spokesperson said.

However, any decisions made at that point are likely to be too late to get permits cleared and issued for the spring workload on dairy farms.

Meanwhile, a long-term review of labour requirements in the meat processing industry is due to be published in the coming weeks.

“In 2024 a strategic review of the meat processing sector was commissioned by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, co-funded by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment,” the spokesperson said.

“The purpose of this review is to assess the conditions underpinning the quota-based employment permit scheme and to provide a strategic long-term review of the demand for labour in the sector.

“There has been significant engagement with the sector throughout this review, providing valuable, on the ground insights. The review is very nearly finalised, and it is expected that a report will be available in the coming weeks,” the spokesperson said.