Written answers

Tuesday, 3 May 2011

Department of Education and Skills

Employment Support Services

9:00 pm

Photo of Patrick O'DonovanPatrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the implementation and distribution of funds through an organisation (details supplied); and if he will provide a breakdown of the agencies that distributed the funds and the amount distributed by each agency. [9255/11]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My Department submitted an application in June 2009 for co-financing assistance from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) towards the cost of guidance, training, entrepreneurship and education programmes for some 2,840 workers made redundant from January 2009 at the Dell computer manufacturing plant in Raheen, County Limerick and at ancillary enterprises. It was estimated at that time that up to 2,400 people would avail of the supported measures. This EGF application was formally approved on 22 December 2009 by the EU budgetary authorities and an EU funds transfer of €14.8 million was duly received in my Department. The Government is providing a matching funding element of €8 million towards the cost of EGF programme measures for the relevant redundant workers. The European Commission decision states that Ireland shall use the EGF financial contribution by 28 June 2011.

EGF programme funding is provided by my Department as the EGF managing authority to relevant intermediate bodies who facilitate the delivery of guidance, training, educational and enterprise supports through a range of in-house and external service providers. The relevant service providers such as FÁS, city and county enterprise boards, Vocational Education Committees and higher education institutions and colleges have under the EGF co-financed programme provided over 2,500 affected persons with guidance supports and over 1,730 with personalised training, education and enterprise supports. Expenditure to the end of 2010 was approximately €5 million. A number of other large claims are currently in preparation by service providers.

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