EC Aids Redundant Aircraft Workers

The European Commission has approved Ireland's application seeking EU co-financing support under the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) for former workers made redundant at the S R Technics aircraft maintenance facility at Dublin airport last year.

The news has been welcomed this week by the Minister for Lifelong Learning, Séan Haughey.

His constituency saw the impact of the S R Technics closure being most keenly felt: "This is once more a welcome recognition by the EU authorities of the adverse impact of the global economic and financial crisis on companies vulnerable to changing trade patterns and solidarity with the plight of affected Irish workers," he commented.

"The Irish authorities made a robust case for EGF support which has been duly recognised by the EU," he continued.

"Up to €11.5m in funding will be available for measures implemented since the redundancies.

"Up to 35pc of this total funding is coming from national resources in support of former SRT workers."

Minister Haughey went on to say there have been considerable State interventions since the S R Technics redundancies were announced last year.

"FAS has provided guidance and training to some 850 workers and up to 100 more are availing of educational supports through the VECs and third level institutions," he said.

"The EU funding when received in due course will allow intensification of these measures for the remainder of the EGF eligibility period out to early October 2011."

Minister Haughey also said that an innovative new scheme enabling up to 30 former S R Technics aircraft maintenance apprentices to complete their on-the-job training phases will commence this month and said that details of this scheme would be announced.

"The scheme will be co-financed from EGF funding as well as nationally through the National Training Fund," he concluded.

(BMcC/GK)