Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2021
164. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the criteria for the drawdown from the fund for former workers of a company (details supplied); and when this criteria was adopted by SOLAS. [56416/21]
View answer165. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the use which will be made of remaining funds of the outstanding balance of the €3 million allocated to the fund for former workers of a company (details supplied) at the end of the two year period of the fund. [56417/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 165 together.
The €3m Training Fund for the former workers of Debenhams Ireland is being financed from the National Training Fund. As proposed by the Chairman of the Labour Court the Fund will operate for a maximum of 2 years or until fully expended. Any unspent amount of the €3m allocation will return to the National Training Fund.
As set out in the proposal from the Chairman of the Labour Court, the Fund will be partly modelled on, but not funded by, previous European Globalisation Adjustment Fund programmes which provided assistance in cases of large scale redundancies. SOLAS has engaged with the Union representatives on the proposed scope of the Fund and submitted a final proposal to my Department in August, 2021.
Under the arrangements for the Fund, SOLAS will provide personalised advice and guidance to the former workers. This service will include initial engagement with each individual, the preparation of an individual electronic case file and action plan and the development of a client profile. There will be financial supports available for additional services such as occupational guidance and career planning support; privately provided accredited educational programmes and course expense contributions.
The level of demand for support from, and the operation of, the Fund will be monitored by the Advisory committee, which includes representatives of Mandate and SIPTU on behalf of the former workers, established to support the implementation of the Fund.
