EU funds for Dell staff ‘could be lost’

THE €14.8 million for laid-off Dell workers will be signed off by the European Parliament today, but workers and MEPs have warned that unless the Government gets organised they could lose much of the funding.

Labour MEP for Ireland South Alan Kelly said that despite knowing for months that the money was coming, no proper arrangements have been put in place to make it available to the close to 3,000 workers eligible to receive it.

“The money will provide a hand-up rather than a hand-out and will be vital in rebuilding the economy of the region. But if the Tánaiste Mary Coughlan does not get her act together as the minister responsible for administering the fund, then some of it will be returned to Europe.

“There is now only 18 months to spend it, but we don’t have a skills analysis or the structures to allow it to be spent.

“The total fund allows €9,000 per worker. They are entitled to this and they must not lose out to lack of action or creative accounting by the Government,” he said.

The money is for retraining, education and helping those laid off to set up their own business. Representatives from organisations including FÁS, Enterprise Europe, Limerick University and others met last Friday to discuss arrangements and agreed to the make-up of the committee to administer the funds.

But chairman of the workers’ group, Dennis Ryan, in Strasbourg for today’s Parliament vote on the funds, said they need action now. They conducted a survey among the workers of their needs and handed it to the Department of Enterprise last Friday.

“The priorities are to ensure that the big number of disabled employed in Dell get whatever help they need, be it a suitable car to help them get around or training to find a new job. Then there are many that want to start higher education and more that want to set up their own business,” he said.

Vice chairman Gerry Hinchy described the situation as “unbelievable” and said the Government seemed to be foot dragging. He wants to set up his own business, but is worried that the money will be swallowed up by the Government and used for other things.

“This fund is for the Dell and Banta workers and it must be targeted solely to those workers.

“Luckily the EU says only 1% of it can be used for administration — we will monitor it, but it needs to be spent immediately,” he added.

In the meantime the Parliament has condemned the European Commission approving Polish state aid for a new Dell plant in Poland opened at the expense of the Irish jobs.