Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Mar 1993

Vol. 428 No. 5

Written Answers. - Assistance for Former Customs Clearance Agents.

Richard Bruton

Question:

64 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if all of the various EC schemes designed to assist with the redeployment of persons formerly engaged in customs clearance, have been taken up in Ireland; the compensation, if any, which is available to persons who have been dislocated by the single market arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Ivan Yates

Question:

65 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Finance the proposals, if any, he has to assist Customs Clearance Agents and their staff who have been left unemployed and under-employed since the Single Market was formed; if there is any compensation other than statutory redundancy or job opportunities that will be made available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter in view of the hardship being suffered by a considerable number of people.

Minister for Finance (Mr. B. Ahern)

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 64 and 65 together. EC assistance is available to former customs clearance agents under three headings:

—existing programmes funded by the European Social Fund;

—Council Regulation 3904/92 on measures to adapt the profession of customs agents to the internal market;

—INTERREG, which is a joint cross-border programme with Northern Ireland.

In the case of existing programmes the full range of FÁS services is available to former customs clearance agents. Arrangements have been made to ensure that Live Register requirements can be waived in the case of customs clearance staff so as to facilitate immediate access to FÁS training courses.

Under Council Regulation 3904/92, some £415,000 is available to provide assistance to Irish firms with diversification plans, principally by way of training and retraining measures. Under this Regulation suitable projects must be submitted to the European Commission by 31 March, 1993. To date, applications in excess of our allocation up to 31 March have been submitted to the Commission.

Assistance can be given under INTERREG to persons affected by changes in border-related activities arising from the establishment of the Internal Market. This programme is confined to the border counties.

Regional Directors of FÁS in the areas most affected (Dundalk, Dublin and Rosslare) are coordinating training/retraining activity for firms and individuals affected. Meetings have taken place since July 1992 with representative bodies of customs clearance agents to discuss the training requirements of firms affected by the Single Market.

As the financing measures involved under the three headings are provided for under the European Social Fund, applications for assistance are being processed through the Department of Enterprise and Employment.