Ireland's North and West MEPs today (5 October) warmly welcomed the decision by the European Commission to allocate €51 million of EU Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) aid for retraining laid-off Irish construction industry workers.

Having initiated the push to apply for EGF funding in the first instance, Marian Harkin MEP, Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP and Jim Higgins MEP said: "we are very pleased that our efforts have borne fruit and that this funding will now be available to retrain and upskill construction industry workers adversely affected by the slump in their sector".

They noted that it is now "imperative that every effort is made to ensure that the best possible opportunities are identified to equip workers for future employment opportunities".

The North and West MEPs also hailed the announcement as "clearly proving the value of MEPs working closely together in the interest of Irish citizens, collaborating proactively with the government of the day to maximise Ireland's ability to avail of vital European Union resources".

Pending European Parliament approval, the three applications on behalf of 5,987 Irish construction industry workers will total €51 million, of which the EU will provide 33 million and Ireland 18 Million. The package of measures will include training programmes and training allowances, 2nd and 3rd level education programmes and supports, and redundant apprentices training programmes and supports.

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Background Note: The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) was set up by the EU in late 2006 to help workers find new jobs and develop new skills when they have lost their jobs as a result of:

• changing global trade patterns, e.g. when a large company shuts down or a factory is moved to outside the EU or the global financial and economic crisis