I propose to take Questions Nos. 496 to 498, inclusive, together.
The Lufthansa Technik Airmotive Ireland (LTAI) EGF Programme was approved in April 2015 and will run until 19 September 2016. With an overall programme value of €4.15 m, the EU contribution is €2.49 m, representing 60% of the total. As the programme will run until next September and most public beneficiary bodies are funding the cost of EGF measures from their own budgets and will subsequently submit declarations at programme end for the final report and statement of eligible expenditure due to be submitted to the European Commission by 19 March 2017, it is difficult to accurately forecast the final expenditure. No final expenditure declarations or payment claims have yet been received in my Department and I am not currently in a position to indicate the level of EGF programme expenditure.
However, I understand that take-up of EGF support measures offered to date is less than anticipated. The total number of redundant workers who were potentially eligible under the EGF Programme was 424, with a further 200 young persons under the age of 25 not in employment, education or training (NEET persons) also being targeted under a new option introduced under EU Regulation 1309/2013 governing the EGF Fund. Based on previous experience the targeted number of redundant workers under the Programme is set at 250 plus the 200 NEET persons. While the Deputy refers to May 2015 figures, the recently published 2nd Implementation Report sets out that at end August 2015, 193 former workers and 76 NEETs had participated in EGF related programme measures; this equates to 77% and 38% of those targeted cohorts respectively. Engagement with the NEET persons is proving more challenging in the time limited context of EGF programmes.
At end August, 256 of the 424 former workers were in employment (60.3%). While positive, this re-employment rate may be mitigating against a higher programme participation rate.
The local EGF Coordination Unit office established by SOLAS and located in Tallaght is coordinating EGF programme supports. All potential beneficiaries have been contacted by the Unit on a number of occasions. The Unit and my Department met with the South Dublin County Partnership) earlier this year in the context of the LTAI EGF Programme and Ms Anna Lee, former CEO of the Partnership subsequently took up the Chairperson of the LTAI EGF Consultative Forum set up to assist in the implementation of, and to maximise participation in the EGF programme.
An information and advocacy event, arranged by worker and NEET representatives on the consultative forum and supported by the EGF Coordination Unit, will take place this week to encourage those eligible to avail of EGF programme support measures. This includes a second tailored 10-week 'Dealing with Change and Opportunity, Mindfully' programme which will commence later this month. My Department continues to liaise with the EGF Coordination Unit and other partners to maximise engagement with the programme. The potential for wider engagement with the community sector in the Tallaght area to maximise participation, particularly of the NEET cohort, is being considered in that context.
Final uptake of an EGF support measure is dependent on the individual choice of each eligible beneficiary and may be influenced ultimately by a range of factors including reintegration into part-time or full-time employment or a focus on job searching.
