Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 207: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the outstanding issues on the rights of former workers of a company (details supplied) to retain their social welfare benefits while using EU globalisation fund for education, training and returning to work have been clarified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10844/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund exists to support workers who lose their jobs as a result of changing global trade patterns or the global economic and financial crisis so that they can be prepared to find another job as quickly as possible.

An application was made by Ireland, and recently approved by EU, in the context of the DELL redundancies in Raheen, Co. Limerick. It is estimated that up to 2,900 workers are involved when qualifying downstream companies affected by this closure are included and a combined total of €2.8 million is available, between EU and Government funding, to provide complementary retraining, upskilling, entrepreneurial support s and educational opportunities for the relevant workers. The allocated funding will be available for spending until September 2011.

Under the terms associated with the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF), it is not envisaged in general that any monies from the fund will be paid directly to former Dell workers. Therefore, the social welfare entitlements of the former workers will not be affected as no money will be directly received. Instead funding is being channelled through the relevant State agencies and educational institutions to deliver the required supports to eligible redundant workers.

Workers who were made statutorily redundant from Dell may retain their jobseeker's payments while attending education or training courses under the terms of the Back to Education schemes operated by the Department of Social and Family Affairs. BTEA participants attending an approved full-time course can keep their jobseeker's payments for the duration of that course (which may be a number of years). Those who participate in an approved part-time course can receive welfare support for as long as they would ordinarily be entitled to a jobseeker's payment (9-12 months in the case of those on Jobseeker's Benefit, or longer for those who qualify for the means-tested Jobseeker's Allowance). These provisions equally apply to workers studying HETAC or FETAC accredited third level courses at private colleges.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment is the responsible authority for making EGF applications and drawing down EU funding. That department is also working with FÁS to make a range of programmes available to the former Dell employees. The package of programmes is currently being finalised. Department of Social and Family Affairs officials are involved at central and local level these matters.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the issue of workers who have been encouraged or pressurised into becoming self-employed contractors in order that their employers can avoid paying PRSI and other benefits or for other reasons; if she will carry out an investigation into this matter; the actions she has taken to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10626/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Due to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.