Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the allocation of funding to former workers of a company (details supplied) from the European globalisation adjustment fund; if the funding has begun to be drawn down and dispersed to the ex-employees for education, retraining and small business support purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6967/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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On 8 December 2010, the European Commission approved the Irish application for European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) co-financing assistance in support of 1,135 workers made redundant in 2009 at the S R Technics aircraft maintenance facility at Dublin Airport. The EGF application was for a total of €11.46m of which the EU contribution of €7.45m was received on 22 December 2010.

Under the terms of the European Commission financing decision, EGF co-funding can be used for measures delivered from the commencement of service provision to the affected workers from 25 March 2009 until 9 October 2011. No EGF funding can be provided for measures after the latter date. Under the SR Technics EGF programme, funding is provided by my Department as the EGF Managing Authority to relevant intermediate bodies who facilitate the delivery of training, educational and enterprise supports through a range of in-house and external service providers rather than directly to individual participants.

The relevant service providers such as FÁS, City and County Enterprise Boards (CEBs), Vocational and Education Committees (VECs) and higher education institutions and colleges have, since March 2009, provided the former SR Technics workers affected with a range of occupational guidance, training, educational opportunities and enterprise supports. For example, FÁS has facilitated almost 850 training places to date. Under a new scheme designed by FÁS in collaboration with my Department, the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Innovation and the Department of Defence, 16 redundant SRT apprentices have since September 2010, commenced Phase 5 and 7 on-the-job work placements with the Air Corps.

In terms of educational supports, over 140 former SR Technics workers have availed of higher education supports to date, including almost 80 participating in full time courses The VEC sector is also providing training programmes to former SR Technics workers. The CEBs have provided business advice, mentoring and financial support to almost 100 former SR Technics workers interested in starting their own business. The full range of EGF co-financed services will continue to be provided to eligible participants until the EGF implementation period expires on 9 October 2011.