Ireland's North and West MEPs have warmly welcomed the application for a €40 million European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) for retraining construction industry related workers.

In a statement Marian Harkin MEP, Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP and Jim Higgins MEP said: "As the initiators of the proposal to apply for globalisation fund for retraining for up-skilling construction workers, we first approached (Border Midland Regional Assembly (BMW)) seeking total redundancy figures for the construction industry in the region. Subsequently we met with officials of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation on a number of occasions proposing the application to the EGF and stressing that such an application was appropriate and if properly made, was likely to be successful.

"We welcome the response of the Tánaiste to the case we made to pursue this application and when, as we hope, it is successful it will prove hugely beneficial in equipping workers for future employment opportunities. It will also represent the value of MEPs working closely together, and with the government, in seeking to maximise resources available from the European Union. The Tánaiste, her officials, and agencies who participated in developing the €40 million applications deserve every praise for their effective and timely actions in pursuing the opportunity provided by the existence of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund" the statement concluded.