Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the fact that Dell European flobal adjustment fund programme is now concluded, if he will indicate the percentage of the allocated funds that will be returned unused to the European Commission. [23908/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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My Department has to date paid €5,550,306 in funding in respect of EGF co-financed measures relating to the support of redundant workers under the Dell EGF programme. The programme has approved EU co-financing under the EGF of €14.8m and another €8m allocated from national sources.

The Dell EGF programme concluded on 28 June 2011. A number of payment claims from various service providers are currently either being processed or are still awaited by the Department, including a claim from FAS for the entirety of its activities under the EGF programme since 2009. A number of these claims are or will be for expenditure of significant amounts.

As final claims have not all yet been received and as a final statement of eligible expenditure is not required by the European Commission along with a Final Report on the Dell EGF programme until 29 December 20011, I am not currently in a position to indicate the percentage of funds that will ultimately be returned to the EU. However, a significant portion of the EU funding is likely to be returned under this programme.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures that have been put in place to ensure that the total funding approved under the construction industry application for the European global adjustment fund will be spent, in particular the measures that he has taken to front load the spending to the individual workers who have lost their jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23909/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The EU budgetary authorities, in the first instance the European Commission, has not to date approved the three applications submitted by my Department for EGF co-financing, which contain various active labour market measures in support of certain identified workers made redundant between 1 July 2009 and 31 March 2010 in the construction sector.

However, in anticipation of EU approval in due course, a number of measures, for which EGF co-financing is being sought, are already being provided by the relevant service providers and funded from national sources. These measures include guidance, training, apprenticeship progression, further and higher education and enterprise supports. Subject to EU approval of the EGF applications, further measures will be provided or intensified as necessary and relevant.

My Department has put in place co-ordination mechanisms to ensure that all relevant issues are addressed, including spend, in order to maximise the impact of the EGF in this area.