Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 207: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the name of the company which is administering the European Globalisation Fund funded programme for 9,000 workers made redundant in the NACE 41, construction of buildings, NACE 43 specialised construction activities, and NACE 71, architectural services, construction sub-sectors between 1 July 2009 and 31 March 2010; if this contract was tendered for; when it was awarded; the duration of the contract, the total fees being paid to the company for administering the contract and the relationship between the company and the dedicated European Globalisation Fund unit established by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34518/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The consultants WRC Social and Economic Consultants Ltd. (WRC) were contracted by the Department to provide certain administrative and technical support unit services to EGF funded programmes in Ireland under the current EGF Programme 2007 - 2013. The first phase of this framework contract concerns tasks in relation to the S R Technics EGF programme and was signed on 9 June 2011. The next phase of the contract concerns tasks in relation to the three as yet unapproved EGF applications seeking co-financing assistance for almost 9,000 construction workers made redundant between 1 July 2009 and 31 March 2010. The Department is currently finalising the precise details of this phase of the framework contract with a view to its signature shortly. It is intended that the duration of this contract element will include the period in relation to the preparation of the Final Report to the European Commission, assuming these applications are approved. As a decision has not yet been made by the EU budgetary authorities, a precise date in time is not available but it is likely that the contract will be for a date in December 2012.

The first phase contract was for a total sum of just under Euros 169,000 (VAT inclusive). The second phase contract is being negotiated within the overarching framework contract price of Euros 2.89m (VAT inclusive). Certain elements of the activities contracted for will be eligible for 65% reimbursement from EGF co-financing. My Department will continue in its role as the national EGF managing authority. In addition to the services being provided by WRC to the managing authority on relevant EGF programmes, proposals are being developed, including with relevant service providers, for an appropriate interface point or points with the redundant construction sector workers and for the co-ordination of both service provision and data control in terms of the reporting of activity and expenditure progress on all EGF supported measures to the managing authority.