Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 May 2021
205. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the process by which the workers of a company (details supplied) can request access to the retraining fund. [28468/21]
View answerI welcome the decision made on 20th May 2021 by former Debenham workers to accept a €3 million fund that will provide individual supports to redundant Debenhams employees. The fund, overseen by SOLAS, will provide a range of supports to assist with retraining or returning to education.
Issues relating to eligibility for, and access to, the fund are a matter to be considered by the group to be established to oversee the development of the fund. This group will include representatives of Mandate, along with a number of the former employees, and will be focussed on ensuring that the fund achieves the shared objective of value and relevance to all former workers.
There are many upskilling and reskilling opportunities within further education and training (FET) and beyond, and SOLAS will work with the former Debenhams workers individually to find the right option, and right support, which will meet their needs, with an invitation from SOLAS to attend a briefing session to issue shortly.
