Foreign worker permits on the table

Lack of labour is affecting Food Wise targets, it has been said.

Amy Forde

7 March 2018

"The shortage that has emerged in recent years is restricting the ability of the sector to achieve its growth targets over the next decade,” IFA president Joe Healy has said.

Minister for Business Heather Humphreys is to meet the IFA about worker permits for potential farm workers on Thursday.

The lack of available labour is beginning to affect Ireland’s ability to reach the targets set out in Food Wise 2025, according to IFA president Joe Healy.

“The shortage that has emerged in recent years is restricting the ability of the sector to achieve its growth targets over the next decade,” Healy said.

The Department committed in November to review the criteria to qualify for work permits from outside the European Economic Area (EEA), Healy said.

Farm labour shortages now critical

Listen: lack of skilled labour in meat processors

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