Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 36: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will assist employees of a company (details supplied) in Dublin 11, following the recent announcement that this company is to go into receivership; if she will further assist employees who are contracted by the parent company; if she will establish if any redundancy or other payments have been awarded to employees to date in 2010, and if not, the steps she will take to assist employees.. [4317/10]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that no claims have yet been received to date in 2010 under the Insolvency Payments Scheme or the Redundancy Payments Scheme on behalf of the workers in Sigma Telecom or Sigma Wireless. There are some paid claims on this Department's files dating from some years ago as well as in 2009 in the case of Sigma Telecom. There is also one single outstanding claim from Sigma Wireless dating from 2009. The Redundancy Payments Scheme established under the Redundancy Acts 1967–2007 provides for payment of redundancy entitlements in respect of eligible employees as defined in the legislation. It is up to the employer concerned in the first instance to determine whether or not in fact a redundancy situation exists and to notify this Department using an RP 50 form which can be downloaded from the Department's website. Under the Insolvency Payments Scheme, established under the Protection of Employees (Employers' Insolvency) Act 1984, payments may be applicable in respect of certain entitlements owed to employees by their employer at the time of liquidation. Claims in respect of such entitlements can be processed if a company is insolvent within the definition of the Act and a "relevant officer" – normally, a receiver or liquidator – has been appointed and certifies the claims. On 18 January 2010, a group of approximately 25 staff from Sigma Wireless presented voluntarily to register with FÁS. No formal notification of receivership has been received to date by FÁS and local attempts to contact the company have been unsuccessful. The full range of FÁS services is available to any affected staff in a group or on an individual basis. These services include interviews, individually and/or in groups, with affected workers to outline the range of supports and services available; preparation of a Skills Analysis Report by FÁS based on identified workers' needs and local opportunities; referral by FÁS of redundant workers to jobs, training courses or other options; and arrangement by FÁS of special or customised courses where necessary.