Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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187. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will meet with the 200 plus staff at a company (details supplied) which went into receivership on 13 June 2016 to brief them of their entitlements and make sure they get the best possible package available to them; and his proposed plans to ensure that these persons get the upskilling they need to help them obtain future employment. [17462/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I would like to thank the Deputy for highlighting this matter. This is a very difficult time for the former employees of the company concerned and my thoughts are with the workers who have lost their jobs as a result of the company going into receivership.

The priority of the Department of Social Protection is to ensure that former employees receive their statutory entitlements. Employees who lose their jobs due company receivership are entitled to a statutory redundancy payment and to other wage-related payments due at the time of the receivership under the insolvency payments scheme.

In the first instance, the former employees of the company concerned should contact the receiver to ensure that they apply for their statutory redundancy and wage related payments. My Department will deal expeditiously with applications to the redundancy and insolvency payments schemes when received from the receiver and will work with the receiver to ensure prompt payments.

In addition, the former employees should contact their local Intreo centre where they will receive advice on jobseekers payments and other income supports. I understand that former employees have already made contact with their Intreo centre to schedule appointments and I would urge the remaining former employees to make contact as soon as possible. Advice and support will also be provided on returning to work or on appropriate education and training options. Intreo centres are located in Sligo town, Carrick on Shannon and Manorhamilton.

The key message for the former employees is that the Department of Social Protection is well aware of their situation, will provide their statutory redundancy, wage-related and jobseeker payments in a timely manner, and will proactively help them to access the many opportunities for employment in our growing economy.