18th December 2025
- Quota of 1,000 for Meat Processing Operatives and 850 for Dairy Farm Assistants provides workforce security for the agri-food sector
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD and Minister of State for Employment, Small Business and Retail Alan Dillon TD today announced the release of new General Employment Permit quotas for the roles of meat processing operative and dairy farm assistant.
A quota of 1,000 has been provided for Meat Processing Operative and 850 for Dairy Farmers Assistants. These quotas are available with immediate effect, from Wednesday, 17 December, to address constraints in the meat and dairy sectors.
It is intended to develop an action plan with the Meat Processing sector to ensure long term workforce planning and stability while fostering attractive workplace conditions and supports.
Minister Peter Burke said:
“Economic migration is a vital aspect of addressing skills gaps and shortages in the labour market. After significant engagement with the sector and all stakeholders, we have made the decision to extend both quotas based on the demonstrated need in the agri-food sector. Alongside developments in technology, upskilling and workplace conditions, the permit system is integral to ensuring Ireland continues to have a competitive economy and agile workforce. These quotas recognise the constraints in the agri-food labour market and its importance in particular to the rural economy”
Minister Alan Dillon added:
“This quota upholds Government commitments to ensure that the agri-food sector is supported by the employment permit system, recognising its significance to employment, the wider economy and trade.”
Ireland’s policy is to promote the sourcing of labour and skills needs primarily from within the workforce of Ireland, the European Union and other European Economic Area (EEA) states.
In May 2018, a pilot scheme was introduced to allow permits to be issued for horticulture workers, meat-processing operatives and dairy farm assistants for the first time. In subsequent years, additional permit quotas were issued under this scheme with a total of 5,425 permits made available to date. These were conditional on progress being reported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on commitments given by the sector in terms of training, upskilling and engagement with the Department of Social Protection.
The quota has now been filled for meat-processors, and more recently for dairy farm assistants. It was considered appropriate to progress the establishment of both quota requests together, given the considerable time pressure and constraints for the diary sector ahead of the traditionally busy period.
Next Steps
The quotas provided for meat processing operatives and dairy farm assistants are available with immediate effect. An action plan based on the findings of a strategic review of the meat sector will be developed in conjunction with the lead policy departments and sectoral representatives, which will outline the deliverables required from the sector for any future quotas to be issued.
-ENDS-
Notes for the Editor
The Occupations Lists
For the purposes of the employment permits system, occupations fall into three categories:
- Occupations listed on the Critical Skills Occupations List are highly skilled professional roles that are in high demand and are not always available in the resident labour force. Occupations on this list are eligible for a Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) and include roles such as medicine, ICT, sciences, finance, and business.
- Occupations listed on the Ineligible Occupations List (IOL) are those with evidence suggesting there are sufficient Irish/EEA workers to fill such vacancies. Employment permits are not granted for these occupations. Some roles are removed from the IOL subject to quota, in order to sustainably integrate a new source of workers into the labour market and to test the labour market needs.
- Every other job in the labour market, where an employer cannot find a worker, is eligible for an employment permit. For these occupations, the employer is required to undertake a Labour Market Needs Test and if no-one suitable applies for the job, the employer is free to apply for an employment permit. Occupations such as these may be skills of a more general nature and are eligible for a General Employment Permit (GEP).
For further information please contact Press Office, Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, press.office@enterprise.gov.ie or (01) 631-2200
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