Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

He used the model of Germany and Sweden. There are also other models his presentation did not mention. On the Plan del Carbón, I understand that the coal workers affected numerically mirror those of Bord na Móna. Some €250 million was agreed for a just transition plan in northern Spain. Did any of that come from the EU globalisation fund? I am somewhat confused about where funding may or may not be available. Approximately a year ago, the then Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Naughten, indicated to us that an application would be made to the fund to help with a just transition. Can we clarify that the current Minister cannot apply, as he told the committee, that it has to be the Minster with responsibility for further education, Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor? What is the ultimate purpose of the fund? Is it to send these workers to Athlone Institute of Technology or some other skills college or was the €250 million injected into the Plan del Carbón to help with the pensions, for starters, and, ultimately, the redundancy payments? Is there any other way beyond this State's resources to give help towards the just transition in the midlands?