THE Government is planning to seek EU funding to help retrain workers who lost jobs in the financial services sectors.

MUCH of the €25 million being paid out by the EU to help get laid-off Irish workers back into employment may have to be returned, MEPs have warned.

TÁNAISTE Mary Coughlan has been accused of failing former SR Technics workers with delays while she was in charge of the Department of Enterprise meaning that much of a €7.5 million retraining fund supplied by the EU may have to be returned unspent.

THE Government has applied to the European Commission for €40 million in funding for a training programme for 8,800 people who have lost their jobs in the construction industry.

A SPECIAL EU fund for redundant workers – from which former Dell workers in Limerick have sought financial support – proved a major success last year with nearly seven out of 10 recipients finding a new job within the space of 12 months.

THE Government plans to apply for training money from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) within coming weeks for Dell workers losing their jobs.