Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 616: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the amount of the Dell EU Globalisation Fund that has been spent and committed; the way she is addressing the problems encountered in accessing the fund for persons who want to return to work or start their own business; if she will remove the obstacles in their way; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31228/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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To date over 2,200 persons are availing of measures including occupational guidance, upskilling, retraining, enterprise supports and educational opportunities, which are being provided to redundant workers from the Dell Raheen plant and ancillary enterprises with the assistance of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF). Expenditure to date and committed in 2010 is still being calculated but is estimated to be of the order of €5m with increased expenditure projected in 2011.

The EGF coordination unit and the EGF Steering Committee are in place to support the implementation of relevant measures. They are charged with insuring the effective and efficient management of EGF measures at local level. That function includes appropriately addressing and resolving problems encountered.

All EGF funded measures are designed to assist EGF clients to return to work or to keep in contact with the labour force. In this context FÁS is providing a number of specific internship programmes which place persons in employment and provide relevant training in specific sectors. The City and County Enterprise Boards as well as Enterprise Ireland are also providing appropriate supports for persons seeking to start their own business.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 617: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons that have been approved for payments under the European Globalisation Fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31482/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Since June 2009 the Government had made four applications under the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) for co-financing assistance for measures in support of redundant workers. Two EGF applications, in respect of redundant workers at the Dell plant in Raheen, Co. Limerick and the Waterford Crystal plant in Kilbarry, Co. Waterford have been approved by the EU budgetary authorities to date. Two further EGF applications in relation to redundant workers at the S R Technics facility at Dublin Airport and on behalf of certain redundant workers in the construction sector are currently under consideration by the European Commission. The latter application was made on 9th June 2010. In total, the EGF applications made to date seek to support over 13,000 redundant workers.

In relation to the implementation of EGF assisted measures in support of redundant Dell and ancillary workers over 2,200 persons to date have availed or are availing of measures including occupational guidance, training, upskilling, enterprise supports and educational opportunities being provided. In relation to the implementation of EGF assisted measures in support of redundant Waterford Crystal and ancillary workers over 480 persons to date have availed or are availing of measures.

It should be highlighted that in the implementation of the EGF payments are not made to individual clients. Relevant supports are delivered to the individual EGF client through the appropriate State agencies and educational institutions including those offered by private service providers.