Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 411: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills when the 120 former workers of a company (details supplied) will expect to be able to benefit from the EU Globalisation Adjustment Fund; the amount of funding that is available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21404/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department submitted an application to the European Commission in October 2009 for co-financing support from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) towards the cost of a personalised package of retraining, upskilling, entrepreneurial supports and educational opportunities for workers made redundant at the S R Technics facility in North County Dublin. Earlier this year, the European Commission sought additional clarifications in relation to the EGF application. My Department has provided all additional information sought to date. The total value of the EGF programme of personalized supports for SR Technics workers is estimated at €11.5m of which the maximum 65% EGF support of €7.4m is being sought by the Irish authorities. The EGF application is currently being considered by the European Commission.

The EGF application process from initiation to final decision is a lengthy procedure involving not just the European Commission but also the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. In the case of the EGF application in relation to workers made redundant at the DELL plant in Co. Limerick, the full approval process took some six months while receipt of EU monies took a further three months. It is also important to stress that there is no guarantee of success of any EGF application. In the interim, state agencies such as FAS, Enterprise Ireland and the City and County Enterprise Boards have made, and continue to make, the full range of their employment, training, guidance and advisory services available to all workers made redundant at S R Technics. A full range of education programmes provided by the VEC and third level sector is also available.