NINE THOUSAND unemployed construction workers eligible for EU financial support have still not been contacted by the Department of Education and Skills, more than 18 months after being made redundant.
The workers, who lost their jobs between July 2009 and March 2010 were eligible for help under the European Globalisation Fund, which provides assistance to EU member states to support and retrain redundant employees.
A significant portion of the €35 million in approved funding is not now expected to be spent.
Minister of State for Training and Skills Ciarán Cannon confirmed: “It is clear at this stage that final expenditure will be significantly less than was originally expected could be used on that programme.”
The application was made by the previous government on behalf of workers involved in construction and related trades and professions, including architectural services.
Mr Cannon told Sinn Féin finance spokesman Pearse Doherty “my department has not notified any of the identified redundant workers to date. However it is intended that letters notifying all persons who are eligible for European Globalisation Fund co-financed assistance of a number of new supports being made available to them” would be issued “very shortly”.
Concerns have previously been raised in the Dáil that a significant portion of a €35 million fund to retrain employees may have to be returned to the EU because of mismanagement of the scheme.
In October Mr Doherty warned that a significant element of the funding was in jeopardy because it had to be used within 24 months of application and it left only a few months before the deadline.
Mr Cannon told him this week that while €6.46 million had been paid to Dell and expenditure there was expected to double “it is clear at this stage that final expenditure will be significantly less than was originally expected could be used on that programme”.
Funding allocations under the scheme have been made for those made redundant from Dell, SR Technics and Waterford Crystal. To date €6.46 million has been paid to Dell, €1.61 million to Waterford Crystal and €1.3 million to SR Technics.
Two months ago Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn said there had been a “problem of maladministration” by the previous government. Apologising to the workers, Mr Quinn said they had been victims of maladministration.
In written replies to parliamentary questions Mr Cannon listed counties the workers were from, with the largest number from Dublin at 2,661 , followed by Cork with 1,268, Galway with 430 and 429 from Kildare.
The smallest number, 41 workers, were from Leitrim, 43 from Longford and 65 from Offaly.
