Irish government to temporarily lift 50% non-EEA hiring cap for health sector

Ireland plans to relax the existing 50:50 restriction that limits non-EEA workers to half of any organisation's workforce. Peter Burke, the Minister for Enterprise, will present a memo to Cabinet suggesting a temporary amendment to address critical staffing gaps in the health sector, especially in nursing homes, home-care and disability services. A recent review highlighted that the rule has contributed to shortages, jeopardising patient care continuity.

In 2024, over 12,000 employment permits were granted to non-EEA health workers, underscoring the sector's dependence on foreign staff. The proposed relaxation will stay in effect only until a larger pool of Irish personnel can fill the vacancies. Parallel announcements include changes to the Repair and Lease scheme and a boiler scrappage proposal, but the primary focus is on the health-workforce rule.