Government figures show the country rejected 158 general employment permits (GEPs) for the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector in 2025.
The information was provided by Minister of State in the Department for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Alain Dillon.
The Minister was asked in a parliamentary question by Fine Gael Tipperary TD Michael Murphy to provide the number of GEPs that have been refused over the past 12 months, the sectors most affected, and the reasons for the refusal.
Murphy also asked Minister Dillon whether he would outline any planned policy changes to address skills and labor shortages where suitably qualified candidates are available from outside the state but are currently deemed unqualified.
Minister Dillon said that the total number of scholarships awarded in 2025 reached 31,000, while 2,546 applications for good scholarships were rejected.
“These refusals have been spread across a wide range of economic sectors, with refusals most concentrated in sectors such as health, social work, accommodation and food services, followed by construction and agriculture,” Minister Dillon said.
Information provided by the Minister showed that 158 GEP applications for the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector were rejected in 2025.
This was among the highest numbers, after health and social work (867); Accommodation and food services (541); Other service activities (193); And construction (188).
According to Minister Dillon, the most common reasons for GEP denial include failure to fully complete the Labor Market Needs Test (LMNT); When the profession you are applying for is not eligible for Work permit; The proposed reward must be less than the minimum; Immigration-related issues; and cases where the ratio of labor required in the European Economic Area (EEA) to outside the EEA is not met.
“The criteria set out in the legislation determining the granting of a permit are designed to ensure that work permits complement the labor supply of local and EEA countries; protect employment standards for non-EEA workers; and promote favorable terms and conditions of employment among employers,” Minister Dillon said.
The minister said that the Business Administration had completed reviewing the lists of professions after consulting with the public.
“The review addressed a wide range of occupations and sectors where recruitment challenges and labor shortages were identified,” he said.
“The results are currently being finalized and will be submitted shortly, with any approved changes to occupation lists implemented in line with established procedures.
Minister Dillon warned that any additional flexibility to the work permit system “must be carefully balanced with the need to maintain appropriate labor market protection and the integrity of the work permit system.”
“Eligibility for GEP roles remains subject to active monitoring and review to ensure it remains responsive to economic needs while supporting equitable and sustainable employment,” the Minister added.
