John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the European Globalisation Fund application that he has made on behalf of the former employees of a company (details supplied). [29355/11]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when it is envisaged that the European Globalisation Fund application for a company (details supplied) will be assessed; and when workers can expect a decision. [29357/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 66 together.

Since the announcement of the proposed redundancies at the Talk Talk company in Waterford, consultations as to the feasibility of submitting a sustainable application for co-financing from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) have been carried out by my Department with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the state Industrial Development Agencies, other state bodies and with the company itself. As I announced publicly this week, my Department is now satisfied, after detailed investigation and on the basis of subsequent information received, that a sustainable application can be made in due course to the European Commission.

In order to ensure that a reasoned and detailed case satisfying the stringent EGF eligibility conditions can be advanced with the greatest prospect of success, the next step is the technical application preparation process involving the collection, verification and analysis of supporting data and the development of a tailored package of support for each individual redundant worker. This process has duly commenced in the Department. It will take a period of some weeks at least to complete. In the meantime, my Department will continue to work with all relevant stakeholders who are currently providing services to the workers and to seek to develop any additional measures for implementation as quickly as possible. I would also propose to meet with the workers as soon as possible to explain the EGF process and to set out our plans to provide supports to help them get back to work.