Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I thank Deputy Doherty for affording me the opportunity to speak on this important issue. I am not certain whether I have full answers to all of his questions, but I will follow up with subsequent information if necessary.

Ireland has an enviable record in the EU in sourcing European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, EGF, co-financing assistance to support redundant workers. To date, €38.2 million in EGF funding - national and EU - has been secured for EGF programmes to support redundant workers from Dell, Waterford Crystal and SR Technics and ancillary enterprises. A further €55 million is in prospect, with the European Commission recently approving €35.7 million, or 65% of this amount, in support of almost 9,000 redundant construction workers. This combined EGF expenditure has and will provide supports to more than 13,500 redundant workers.

EGF funding assists the Government to provide a package of personalised services in the areas of guidance, training, educational opportunities and enterprise supports. A mix of existing and new and innovative measures has been designed and implemented in the various programmes. As well as co-financing guidance, training, further and third level education provided by the core service providers such as FÁS, the VECs and the publicly funded third level colleges and institutions, EGF funds have also funded courses provided by the private sector. Innovative internship programmes have been designed and operated in the mid-west region in support of redundant Dell workers, while tailored FÁS and VEC vocational and community employment courses have been deployed for Waterford Crystal workers. An innovative FÁS apprenticeship scheme for redundant SR Technics apprentices is running in conjunction with the Air Corps and the Department of Defence.

In regard to the three EGF applications in support of almost 9,000 redundant construction workers, full approval of these applications is still awaited from the European Council and European Parliament. However, the Government has been providing supports to these workers since the date of their redundancy. These supports have included guidance, training, further education courses, on and off-the-job apprenticeship supports, third level education programmes and enterprise start-up advisory and financial supports. To date we estimate that supports totalling €22 million have been delivered to the relevant construction sector applicants. A further suite of guidance, training and upskilling proposals is under consideration and all persons eligible for new supports will be contacted individually next month. Following the take-up of all available supports, a further suite of measures will be provided in 2012 to maximise the anticipated EGF funding.

The three completed EGF programmes are currently being assessed and wound up, and final reports must be prepared for submission to the European Commission. The first such report is for the Dell EGF programme. As a number of significant claims are currently being processed and others are still due from service providers, it is not possible to give a total expenditure figure at this time. However, my Department has paid more than €5.5 million in funding to date, based on claims received, with a further €1.4 million and just under €1 million, respectively, paid out in regard to the Waterford Crystal and SR Technics EGF programmes, which closed subsequent to the Dell programme.

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