I propose to take Questions Nos. 642 and 644 together.
The Lufthansa Technik Airmotive Ireland (LTAI) EGF programme received final approval from the EU authorities in April 2015 and will run until 19 September 2016. The overall programme allocation is some €4.15m including an EU contribution of €2.49m.
An independently chaired consultative forum was established to offer advice and views on the implementation of the LTAI EGF programme and my Department produces implementation reports which are reviewed by the forum. Two implementation reports have been produced to date on this programme which provide the detail sought by the Deputy in terms of overall participation, uptake of particular measures and labour market status of affected populations of both redundant workers and young persons not in employment, education or training. Copies of these reports are being issued to the Deputy and published on the dedicated website www.egf.ie.
These implementation reports do not contain financial data. The level of final approved expenditure on EGF programmes is only known when all claims are duly made by the various service providers such as SOLAS, Education and Training Boards, Local Enterprise Offices, Higher Education Institutions and the Department of Social Protection who are generally carrying such expenditure under their own budgets. Though interim claims may be made, it is usual for claims to be made to the Department for relevant EGF services in their entirety at the end of the programme. 60% of approved eligible EGF expenditure is provided by the EU and the balance is provided through national sources including voted Department expenditures and the National Training Fund. As the LTAI EGF programme ends on 19 September 2016, expenditure will be eligible until that date with the exception of third level expenditure which may be eligible in certain instances until 19 March 2017. A final report will be presented to the European Commission by my Department on the implementation of the EU financial contribution of €2.49m by 19 March 2017.
My Department submitted an EGF application for a programme of measures in support of 108 workers made redundant at the PWA International Ltd. (Pratt Whitney) facility in Rathcoole, Co. Dublin and for up to the same number of persons under 25 years not in employment, education or training on 19 June 2015. The application is currently undergoing inter-service consultation within the European Commission and, if approved by the College of Commissioners, must also be duly approved by the EU Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. Similar services are currently being provided to the redundant PWAI workers as are being provided under the LTAI EGF programme though these are being funded entirely through national sources in anticipation of subsequent EU approval. As this recent application has not yet been approved, no formal implementation report has been prepared to date. Subject to the approval of this application, implementation reports will be published on www.egf.ie.
