The number of work permits issued for the agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors in April surged to well over double the figure issued for March.

According to the most up-to-date information from the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, of the 751 work permits issued to these sectors so far this year, 324 were issued in April, compared to 168, 132 and 127 in January, February and March respectively.

Of the 25 sectors listed, agriculture, forestry and fishing showed the most considerable change from March to April.

Only three of the 25 sectors saw more work permits issued last month than the agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors. These were health and social work activities (924); accommodation and food services activities (361); and 'other service activities' (340).

The agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors has seen the sixth highest number of work permits issued in the first four months of the year.

The most were for health and social work activities (3,345); accommodation and food services activities (1,341); information and communication activities (1,295); 'other service activities' (1,019); and construction (760).

In total, 3,322 work permits across all economic sectors were issued in April, for a total of 12,219 in the first four months of the year.

Permits refused in 2025

Figures provided last month show that 158 work permits, or general employment permits (GEPs), for the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector in 2025 were refused by the state.

The information was provided by Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Alan Dillon.

The minister had been asked in a parliamentary question by Fine Gael Tipperary TD Michael Murphy to provide the number of GEPs that have been refused in the past 12 months, the sectors most affected, and the causes of refusal.

Minister Dillon said that the total number of GEPs granted in 2025 reached 31,000, while 2,546 applications for GEPs were refused.

"These refusals were spread across a wide range of economic sectors, with the concentration of refusals higher in sectors such as health and social Work; accommodation and food services; followed by Construction; and Agriculture," Minister Dillon said.

The information provided by the minister showed that 158 GEP applications for the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector were refused in 2025.

According to Minister Dillon, the most common reasons for refusing a GEP include failure to fully complete a Labour Market Needs Test (LMNT); where the occupation applied for is ineligible for an employment permit; the remuneration proposed is below a minimum threshold; immigration-related issues; and cases where the required European Economic Area (EEA) to non-EEA employment ratio has not been satisfied.