The government has announced major reform of the employment permits system. The move is aimed at providing up to 2,000 skilled professionals for jobs in the ICT sector.
An additional 700 work permits will be given out with a cut in the processing time.
The changes are part of Action Plan for Jobs 2013 and have an ultimate aim of providing Ireland with the highest proportion of ICT graduates as a share of 3rd-level graduates by 2018.
The reforms will target:
- An increase of 50%, or 700, in the number of employment permits granted over the coming year in the ICT sector. International research has shown that for every high-tech job created, a further 4-5 jobs are created elsewhere in the economy
- A reduction of 33% in the processing time for employment permits
- Improvements in the appeals process and a reduction in the number of appeals
- Broadening the highly-skilled eligible occupations list
- Improved customer service and communications
- Other areas where there is also a shortage of sufficient skilled talent.
Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn said "The first 400 graduates from the ICT conversion programmes are now available...A further 300 graduates from the conversion programmes will be available before the end of the year as well as 600 graduates from high level Springboard ICT programmes".
"The impact of these initiatives will be to double the projected output of honours degree level ICT graduates from the education system in 2013" he added.
The Jobs Minister Richard Bruton announced the move this morning.
