Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 30 May 1996

Vol. 466 No. 3

Written Answers. - EU Aid for Irish Steel Workers.

Michael Ahern

Ceist:

87 Mr. M. Ahern asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if a decision has been reached in respect of the eligibility of the 205 workers who were made redundant in 1994 at Irish Steel Limited, Cork; if so, when payment will be made to persons who are so eligible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11321/96]

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. R. Bruton)

As I mentioned in the House on several occasions over recent months, my Department received a communication from the EU Commission in Brussels confirming that the Commission has approved grant aid, under Article 56 (2) (b) of the ECSC Treaty, amounting to ECU 376,806 for 194 workers made redundant in 1994-95. A number of aspects of the commission's decision, and the conditions attached to the decision, have to be clarified by my Department before any payment can be made by the EU Commission. My Department has been in touch with the Commission but it will be some more months before all matters are clarified.

The Deputy refers to 205 workers being involved. My Department initially applied for readaptation aid in respect of 205 workers in Irish Steel Ltd. as a result of the 1994 rationalisation plan. This figure was revised to 194 to take account of workers who did not actually receive redundancy payments such as apprentices, workers who terminated their employment but were not made redundant, workers scheduled for redundancy but subsequently retained and a small number of additional redundancies.