Minister for Health Simon Harris TD has today (December 18th) welcomed the announcement by Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys to change to the employment permits system for workers from outside the European Economic Area.
The changes, which will come into effect from 1st January 2020, should help to address labour shortages in the health sector.
The changes mean that all nurses can now qualify for a Critical Skills Employment Permit, which allows broad access to the Irish labour market for family members and a fast track to long term residency after two years.
Speaking today, Minister Harris said:
Currently non-EEA nurses fall into two categories, those with a nursing degree and those with a nursing diploma.
As it stands, nurses with degree qualifications can access the Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEPs), while those with a diploma can only access a General Employment Permit. This type of permit only allows for family reunification after 12 months and family members cannot automatically access the labour market.
My Department and I have supported a call to end this inequality, and I very much welcome the change announced today by my colleague Minister Heather Humphreys, T.D. which will bring equal access to all degree/diploma level qualified nurses/midwives.
Notes to the Editor
Changes for Nurses
The occupations Nurses and Midwives are recognised as skills in short supply in Ireland and are currently listed on the critical skills occupations list and are eligible for a Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP). However, the criteria attached to this permit type includes the requirement for a degree level qualification or higher in the relevant field if the remuneration on offer is between €32,000 and €64,000 per annum (from 1st January 2020). Nurses cannot work in Ireland without registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI)
A non-EEA nurse who has been awarded a relevant diploma level qualification in their home country are equally eligible to become qualified to practice nursing in Ireland and are eligible to be awarded registration by the NMBI however are currently not eligible to apply for a CSEP as they do not meet the degree level qualification requirement. Nurses with a diploma qualification are granted a General Employment Permits (GEP) which does not have the same provisions as a CSEP such as immediate family reunification and immediate access to the labour market for family members.
This has given rise to an anomaly with registered nurses working side by side undertaking the same duties; one on a CSEP and one on a GEP. The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation has consulted with the Departments of Health and Justice and Equality, the HSE and NMBI to address this issue. Changes introduced in these regulations will facilitate eligibility for Critical Skills Employment Permits to all qualified, registered NMBI nurses, including non-EEA nurses with nursing diploma qualifications.