Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the European globalisation adjustment fund (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39926/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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On 14 November, the European Council approved the applications submitted by my Department in respect of almost 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. Redundant workers were identified based on evidence of statutory redundancy payments and on data from the apprenticeship database held by FÁS.

The three applications have been approved by the EU budgetary authorities subject to certain final procedural elements. The final EU financing decision releasing the EGF contribution of a total of €35.7m is expected shortly.

A number of EGF programme Interventions have been provided to date and are funded from existing budgetary provision, include career guidance, full, part-time and evening further education and training courses, apprenticeship on-and off-the-job training, full and part-time third level education programmes and related training and education allowances where appropriate. It is intended that letters notifying all persons who are eligible for EGF co-financed assistance of a number of new supports which will be made available to them will issue very shortly.