The ICP data behind Recruitroo shows the average first deal for a construction employer is around €22,000, covering roughly five to fifteen people across a project. That is not a one-at-a-time process - it is a batch exercise that requires planning the 50/50 rule, the LMNT timing, staggered arrivals and induction capacity before the first application lands.
What changes when you hire in batches
- The 50/50 EEA rule is a batch-wide constraint, not per-hire. At least half your company workforce must be EEA nationals at the time each application is filed. If a first batch of five takes you to 45% EEA, the sixth application fails. Model this before you start, not after.
- LMNT can cover multiple roles in one campaign - if the job descriptions and salaries are locked per role from day one. Amending mid-run resets the clock for that role.
- Stagger arrivals to match induction capacity. Three people landing the same Monday is manageable; eight landing the same week overwhelms a site induction system designed for one at a time.
- Document everything once, re-use for each application. Company registration, tax clearance, NACE codes and Trusted Partner credentials are identical for every application in the batch - organise them once and they cost nothing to replicate.
Running the 50/50 maths before you apply
If your company has 40 employees and 24 are EEA nationals, you are at 60% - you can apply for up to eight permits before you hit the 50% floor (eight non-EEA additions would give 16/48 = 33%, which fails). The right way to model this: count current EEA employees, count existing non-EEA permit holders, and calculate the maximum batch size that keeps the ratio above 50% after all applications in the batch are processed. Our 50/50 rule explainer walks through the maths in detail.
Timing the batch against the programme
| Phase | Duration | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Role scoping and salary setting | 1 week | Lock all job descriptions and salary figures - do not change them after this point |
| Labour Market Needs Test | 28 days | Advertise all roles simultaneously to compress the timeline |
| Permit applications | 2–4 weeks (Trusted Partner) | File for all roles immediately after LMNT closes |
| Visa processing | 4–8 weeks | Runs in parallel with permits where possible |
| Arrivals and induction | Week 1–2 | Stagger by 3–5 people per week to match induction capacity |
Batch pre-flight checklist
Building a batch hire plan for your project?
Recruitroo handles construction batch hires from scoping through to arrivals - sourcing, LMNT management, permit filing, 50/50 tracking, visa coordination and staggered arrival logistics. Tell us the project and the trades.
Frequently asked questions
Can I run the LMNT for all roles simultaneously?
Yes, and you should - advertising all roles at the same time compresses the overall timeline so all permits can be filed on the same day rather than staggered by role.
What if I exceed the 50/50 limit mid-batch?
Applications over the limit are refused. Model the ratio before filing and plan the batch size to stay within it, or bring on EEA workers alongside the permit batch to raise the ceiling.
Can I use the same documents for all applications in a batch?
Company-level documents (registration, tax clearance, Trusted Partner credentials) are reused across all applications in the batch. Role-specific documents (the job description, contract and LMNT evidence) are per-application.
This guide reflects Irish employment permit rules as of September 2026. Workforce ratios, thresholds and lists change regularly - confirm the current position before planning a batch hire.