Mattie McGrath on Businesses Facing Staff Shortages and Permit Delays
Mattie McGrath raised concerns about businesses unable to recruit staff and delays in work permit processing, urging the civil service to speed up. He cited a Tipperary family business that began the process in February, advertised in May, and was promised staff by the minister but later received a letter of difficulties.
Local business example
A Tipperary family business of 60 years is struggling to reopen fully because it cannot recruit the roughly 50 staff it needs. The business began the recruitment and permit process in February, advertised in May and pursued workers from India after assurances that staff would arrive.
Pressure on the civil service
McGrath criticised slow processing times and asked when the civil service will be "back working to full tilt" to complete permits. He described local businesses as "sinking" and said the delays are wiping them out, amplifying frustration among business owners.
Sector-wide labour shortages
The minister responding acknowledged labour shortages across retail, hospitality, logistics, agriculture and food. The minister cited the pandemic and travel restrictions as factors limiting inward movement of workers and said easing is expected as payments wind down and travel resumes.
Work permit processing and legislative plans
The minister said the department handles issuing work permits, staff are returning to offices and processing should speed up. Legislation to modernise and simplify the work permit process is expected to be brought before the House in the coming months.
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Madam McGrath All I want to join is your most fitting tribute to the late Tom Burke, Farutal Abahey. I have an email here from a business family in Tipperary, a business for 60 years and you have often frequented the place. They cannot get staff and this is going on. We saw what Boris Johnson did across the pond in getting 10,000 work permits issued and bringing in the army. Yet this man and business started the process last February, advertised in May and got people from India. He was assured by your minister a month ago that he would have two of them in a week. Three weeks later he gets a letter that has difficulties. When are you going to get the civil service back working to full tilt and get these processes done? Businesses, homegrown indigenous businesses, are just sinking and being wiped out by the lack of employees. He will do with 50 staff to reopen his business fully but this is very frustrating. I will forward you his email which is very frustrating to read. Amanda wants to imply people and wants to continue his business for another 60 years. Thank you Deputy Conister. As the House will be aware, businesses are reporting labour shortages across the economy at the moment. In retail, hospitality, logistics and agriculture and food. This is a real problem. There are a number of different things that are driving that. It ranges from the impact of the pandemic to the fact that it is much harder for people to travel into the country or at least it was until a few weeks ago. I think with the pandemic unemployment payment being phased out and travel restrictions being removed, we will see that labour shortage easing. The issuing of work permits is handled by my department. We are now at the point where staff are coming back into the offices. We would expect to be sped up and we also have legislation, we hope to have before the House in the coming months, that will modernise the process and make it easier for permits to be given. Thank you. Thank you.
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