Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total spend on the Waterford Crystal European Globalisation Fund programme as detailed in his report to the European Commission submitted on 6 February 2012; the amount of money he expects to be returned to the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12165/12]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The final report and accompanying statement of expenditure in respect of the Waterford Crystal EGF programme were submitted to the European Commission by the Department on 6 February 2012 as required under the relevant European Commission decision. The total expenditure certified by the Irish authorities in the statement of expenditure was €3,089,633.08.

The European Commission has recently forwarded its initial calculations that include a reimbursement of €562,591.50 in respect of the EU financial contribution of €2,570,853.00 made to the Waterford Crystal EGF programme. However, as the EGF case in question has not yet been closed by the European Commission, I am not in a position to confirm the final outcome at this time.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm if an application to the European Globalisation Fund in the name of redundant TalkTalk workers has been submitted; the date on which it was submitted; the amount of money being sought from the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12166/12]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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An application for co-financing assistance from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) in respect of some 592 workers made redundant at the Talk Talk company in Waterford and at three ancillary enterprises was submitted to the European Commission by my Department on 29 February 2012. The measures included in the application are costed in the region of €5.4m at a maximum co-financing rate of 50% (€2.7m) from the EU if approved and include guidance, training, further and higher education and enterprise supports and a contribution towards course expenses. I have already approved the implementation of a number of these measures through national funding in anticipation of approval of the application by the EU budgetary authority.