Town Planner added to the Critical Skills list, home carer quota raised by 1,000
From 10 March 2025 Town Planning Officer became a Critical Skills occupation and the home carer and care worker quota increased by 1,000 permits.
The Minister for Enterprise announced two employment permit changes with effect from 10 March 2025.
Town Planning Officer joins the Critical Skills list
Town Planning Officer was added to the Critical Skills Occupations List, making the role eligible for a Critical Skills Employment Permit. The Department said the change addressed planning staff shortages affecting housing delivery.
A Critical Skills permit requires no labour market needs test and provides a route to Stamp 4. See our Stamp 4 guide for the current upgrade criteria. Family reunification applications can be made immediately, compared with the twelve-month wait under a General Employment Permit.
Home carers: 1,000 more General Employment Permits
The General Employment Permit quota for home carers and care workers was extended by 1,000 permits. The minimum salary remained €30,000 a year at the time of the announcement.
Once a quota is exhausted, permits are no longer granted for the role, even where the application meets the other requirements. Employers should take the available quota into account when planning recruitment.
Sources
- Minister Burke announces changes to the employment permits system — Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment