Batt O'Keeffe
Question:291 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment when the retraining fund money in respect of former Irish Steel workers will be made available. [22710/96]
Written Answers. - Irish Steel Fund.
I assume that the Deputy is referring to re-adaptation aid payable, under Article 56.2 (b) of the ECSC Treaty, to workers made redundant from Irish Steel Ltd. due to the 1994 restructuring plan.
I am pleased to inform the House that considerable progress has been made in this matter and I am confident of a favourable outcome. The indications were that a formal Commission decision would have been taken at this stage but because the Irish case is being processed with all other readaptation aid cases, the approval procedure has been delayed. However, my Department has recently been informed that a formal decision is expected to be taken within a couple of weeks.
I understand that, once formal approval has been received, the Commission will make the funding available to my Department within two to three months. I will then ensure that payments are made to the eligible workers as quickly as possible.