€10m in unspent training funds returned to EU

Less than 400 of 9,000 construction workers eligible for extra training under a €35m EU fund have taken up the courses.

The figures emerge as the Department of Education starts handing back the first €10m of unspent funds previously made available to retrain former Waterford Crystal, SR Technics, and Dell staff.

The 377 ex-construction workers who availed of grants up to the end of April are among just 808 who made inquiries to the department about accessing the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF).