Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will seek activation of the European globalisation adjustment fund which was adopted on 20 December 2006 in order to be of assistance to workers in the Galway Bay region, such as the workers at a company (details supplied) who have recently been informed that they are to lose their jobs. [34510/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is currently investigating all possible means of assisting the workers referred to by the Deputy. The IDA is co-ordinating a response by the various State Agencies in relation to these redundancies and a meeting with the company is being arranged for the week beginning 17 December, which is the earliest that Executives of the company are available.

FÁS will make its full range of employment services available to the company and its employees over the coming months. This will include intensive interviews with the affected workers to outline the range of supports and services available and the preparation of a Skills Analysis Report by FÁS based on identified workers' needs and local opportunities. It will also include referral by FÁS of redundant workers to jobs, training courses or other options and on-going support and action to keep redundant workers in touch with the labour market.

While my Department is currently assessing the suitability of the situation in relation to the strict criteria for an application under the European Globalisation Fund, the availability of funds from the European Globalisation Fund will not be a constraint on the support that will be provided to the workers concerned.