Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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606. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the correspondence and interaction there have been between her Department and the board of a group (details supplied) regarding the pending job losses at its site in Raheen, County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13053/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I received formal notification from this employer on 17 February 2021 of proposed collective redundancies at this site. I noted and welcomed the employer's commitment to engage in a consultation process with affected employees from the week beginning 21 February in order to identify solutions and reach agreement in relation to the proposed redundancies. I also noted the employer's commitment that, where a decision was taken to proceed with the proposed redundancies following the period of consultation, the employer would honour the employees' contractual and statutory rights with respect to a redundancy package as part of this process.

The Department has worked closely with this employer in similar circumstances previously and is doing so again in relation to this particular issue. The employer contacted my Department officials directly to request assistance with managing the employee’s social welfare entitlements post-redundancy. A local Department Area Manager has been nominated to liaise with a nominee from the employer involved. It has been agreed that all enquiries from this employer to my Department will be coordinated through this liaison person. Information packs containing application forms for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, Disability Allowance and information on the EmployAbility Service and the Department's Activation Services were issued to the employer on 25 February. At a local level, dedicated staff in my Department have been assigned to work directly with the employees affected by this redundancy to ensure they receive their proper entitlements and appropriate supports.

Arrangements have also been made to ensure that any social welfare claims arising from the company closure will be expedited. My Department will work to ensure that the employees will be able to access their entitlements swiftly and in a manner that does not cause any further distress.

I hope this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.