424 work permits issued for agri sector in first quarter
424 work permits were issued to the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector in the first three months of 2026.
Figures from the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE) show that 126 permits were issued to the sector in March this year, 130 in February and 168 in January.
The number issued so far this year is down 41% when compared to the 721 permits issued in the same period in 2025.
A lot of the permits issued in the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector relate to meat processing, horticulture enterprises, particularly mushroom growers, and dairy farms.
Across all sectors, a total of 8,883 work permits have been issued so far this year.
The sector with the highest number of work permits issued so far this year was health and social work activities, with 2,418.
Work permits criteria
Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Alan Dillon said that applications for employment permits in Ireland are "subject to a range of criteria established under the employment permits legislation".
This includes the requirement for the employment to reach the minimum annual remuneration (MAR) for the permit type and occupation being applied for.
"The primary objective of the MAR framework is to ensure that employment permit holders have sufficient earnings to live in Ireland without reliance on state supports, and to prevent undercutting efforts to improve pay and conditions, or modernisation and productivity measures," Minister Dillon said.
"Instances may arise where a general employment permit is granted without the minimum annual remuneration being reached.
"Such cases may be due to the effective date of MAR increases or supplementary pay elements that may be included to meet the minimum salary, such as higher health insurance premiums."
Changes to the MAR thresholds for employment permits were implemented from March 1, in accordance with the statutory requirements set out in the Employment Permits Act 2024.
"Under the employment permits legislation, there is a legal obligation on my department to conduct an annual review of the MAR, and where average weekly earnings have increased, the MAR must increase by at least a corresponding percentage," the minister said.
"There are however no current plans to reconsider any revision to the remuneration for an employment permit in place since March 1, 2026."
