Ireland Seeks EU Help to Reskill Redundant Dell Workers

Earlier this year, the long-anticipated closure of Dell’s factory in Limerick was confirmed after spiraling costs in the Irish economy made its future untenable. The factory is being moved to a new location in southern Poland.

Dell will continue to employ 2,000 people in Ireland engaged in higher-value activities.

Today, Minister Coughlan submitted an application to the European Commission seeking support from the European Globalisation Fund (EGF) for training and other supports for workers being made redundant both at the Dell plant in Raheen, Co Limerick, and in other local companies, such as Banta Global Turnkey, that have experienced knock-on redundancies as a consequence.

“I am making this application to support the training and other active labor market measures for the many workers affected in the region and to ensure that they benefit in a way that meets their individual needs and gives them well-grounded hope for future employment through training opportunities,” the Minister explained.

EGF funding is made available to EU countries to support workers impacted by changing world trade patterns.

Eligible interventions include assistance with occupational guidance, job searching, mobility supports and training, and further education and upskilling for affected workers. An annual EGF budget of €500m is in place until 2013.

The Irish application is the result of months of detailed preparatory work by the Tánaiste’s Department, the Departments of Education and Science and Social and Family Affairs, the Higher Education Authority, and other state agencies on the ground in the mid-west, including FÁS, Enterprise, Ireland and IDA Ireland, the City and County Enterprise Boards and the regionally based further and higher education sectors.

The Tánaiste engaged directly with the EU Commissioner responsible for Employment, Social Affairs, and Equal Opportunities, Mr. Vladimir Ŝpidla, concerning Ireland’s application. Commission officials have also visited Ireland to discuss specific technical details with their Irish counterparts.

“Since the formal notification of these redundancies, I have had several contacts with Commissioner Ŝpidla. He has direct responsibility for the management of the EGF and has assured me of his interest in this application and that it will be dealt with expeditiously. I will meet the Commissioner again when he visits Ireland shortly,” Minister Coughlan said.

Pictured: Dell’s operations in Limerick