Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 March 2010
328 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the European Globalisation Fund available to workers of a company (details supplied) for training and enterprise projects will not interfere with the provision of social welfare entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9980/10]
View answer346 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she has consulted with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to clarify that the European Globalisation Fund available to workers of a company (details supplied) for training and enterprise projects, will not interfere with the provision of social welfare entitlements; if this has been communicated to all local offices; when this will be clarified for all workers concerned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9981/10]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 328 and 346 together.
The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund exists to support workers who lose their jobs as a result of changing global trade patterns or the global economic and financial crisis so that they can be prepared to find another job as quickly as possible.
An application was made by Ireland, and recently approved by EU, in the context of the DELL redundancies in Raheen, Co. Limerick. It is estimated that up to 2,900 workers are involved when qualifying downstream companies affected by this closure are included and a combined total of €2.8 million is available, between EU and Government funding, to provide complementary retraining, upskilling, entrepreneurial supports and educational opportunities for the relevant workers. The allocated funding will be available for spending until September 2011.
Under the terms associated with the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF), it is not envisaged in general that any monies from the fund will be paid directly to former Dell workers. Therefore, the social welfare entitlements of the former workers will not be affected as no money will be directly received. Instead funding is being channelled through the relevant State agencies and educational institutions to deliver the required supports to eligible redundant workers.
Workers who were made statutorily redundant from Dell may retain their jobseekers payments while attending education or training courses under the terms of the Back to Education schemes operated by the Department of Social and Family Affairs. BTEA participants attending an approved full-time course can keep their jobseekers payments for the duration of that course (which may be a number of years). Those who participate in an approved part-time course can receive welfare support for as long as they would ordinarily be entitled to a jobseekers payment (9-12 months in the case of those on Jobseekers Benefit, or longer for those who qualify for the means-tested Jobseekers Allowance). These provisions equally apply to workers studying HETAC or FETAC accredited third level courses at private colleges.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment is the responsible authority for making EGF applications and drawing down EU funding. That department is also working with FAS to make a range of programmes available to the former Dell employees. The package of programmes is currently being finalised. Department of Social and Family Affairs officials are involved at central and local level these matters.
