Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 53: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress that has been made on the application for funds from the European Globalisation Fund for former workers at companies (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11306/10]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 102: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding the application process of the European Globalisation Fund; when the European Commission will be furnished with the supplementary information it has sought on the Irish application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11171/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 102 together.

My Department submitted three applications in 2009 on behalf of Ireland for co-financing assistance from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) towards the cost of guidance, training, entrepreneurship and education programmes for redundant workers at the Dell computer manufacturing plant in Raheen, Co. Limerick, the Waterford Crystal plant in Kilbarry, Co. Waterford and the S R Technics facility at Dublin Airport. The first application in relation to the DELL redundancies was made on 19th June 2009 and was approved late last year by the EU budgetary authorities. An EU funds transfer of €14.8m was received in my Department late last week. The Government has provided a matching element of €8m in funding in respect of this application in my Department's Vote.

The second application, that for Waterford Crystal workers made redundant, was made on 25th September 2009 and is currently at the inter-service consultation stage within the European Commission. It will upon approval subsequently be considered by the College of Commissioners, the European Council and the European Parliament. I understand that the Commission phase of the procedural process may be completed in early April with a view to preparing the Irish application for discussion in the relevant Parliamentary committees later that month.

A third application was made by my Department on 9th October 2009 in relation to redundancies at the SR Technics facility at Dublin Airport. My Department is currently preparing a response to a request from the European Commission for further information in relation to this application and hopes to be in a position to complete this process in the next couple of weeks. My Department continues to monitor redundancies nationwide in order to assess whether further EGF applications, which must meet strict EGF Regulation criteria and conditions, can be successfully made by Ireland.