Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
105. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has examined if other European supports such as the European Globalisation Fund are available to provide support staff of a company (details supplied) that may be laid off in Shannon Airport. [12433/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) is an EU co-funding instrument to assist workers who are made redundant as a result of globalisation or due to a global financial and economic crisis. The measures that can be co-financed by the EGF include targeted training and other personalised support for the reintegration of redundant workers into the labour market.
To be eligible for EGF assistance, there must be at least 500 redundancies in a specific company (including suppliers / downstream producers) in a 4 month period, or at least 500 redundancies in a specific sector in a 9 month period. In exceptional circumstances, applications can be made where the minimum threshold number of redundancies is not entirely met and the Member State can substantiate that there is a serious impact on employment and the local, regional or national economy. EGF applications must specify the number of redundancies that have occurred within the applicable reference period and must be submitted within 12 weeks of the end of that period.
Applications for EGF support for workers made redundant due to the economic impact of COVID-19 may be considered where the series of measures introduced by the Government to support businesses to retain jobs do not succeed in particular instances. In this context I understand that the Aviation Recovery Action Plan setting out recommendations for consideration by Government as appropriate, is expected next month.
My officials in the EGF Managing Authority are continuing to monitor developments in relation to the proposed redundancies. Temporary lay-offs do not constitute redundancies within the scope of the EGF. There are a range of supports for workers at this time, full details of which are available at www.gov.ie.
