Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

The workers received statutory redundance payments; there was no big pay-out. As such, they are not in a position to pay college fees at this stage. The investment they have made in time and energy was matched by funding from the EGF. That financial investment should have seen accreditation at the end of the course, to which they are entitled. I spoke to one of the workers yesterday and he told me the education element of his CV consisted of a group certificate awarded in the 1970s. A BA degree would have given him the hope he would not end up long-term unemployed but skilled and able to commence his own business or build a new career.

The workers were of the opinion that EGF funding would commence from the date it was approved by the European Union and run for two years from that date, September 2010. They were not aware that the commencement date was the date of the initial application in October 2009, which was rejected. An administrative process was also to have been initiated. This has not occurred to date and it seems pointless to initiate such a process at this stage. I wonder if the scheme is entirely in compliance with EGF programme requirements, given that the administrative process was not initiated and the fund is nearly exhausted.

The students are too far into the degree course to change, as suggested in the letter from the Department of Education and Skills. Changing at this stage would mean beginning year 1 elsewhere. If the students did what was suggested, they might well be supported under the CAO system for four years, which would be much more expensive. Many of the workers are in their 40s and early 50s. They make the point that this was a really good course that they embraced with enthusiasm. The fact that they are a group of mature students from the same background has been a positive for them. Many have been doing the course for a full 12 months in order to complete it as soon as possible. They are keen to get back to making a contribution and take advantage of their new skills, but it is now doubtful if they will be able to complete the course. They are asking to be allowed to do this. There are many half-baked schemes and courses with no result at the end of them, but there is massive potential for these 55 workers. All that they ask is that they be allowed to complete the course.

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