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Course funding delay angers former SR Technics workers

Tuesday, 02 March 2010

FURIOUS former SR Technics workers are demanding that the Government immediately make funding available for promised third level courses almost a year after the first 600 workers at the Northside plant were let go. A delegation of former workers, including Swords locals John Devlin and Matt McCormack, met with the Tanaiste’s office last week to discuss the urgent situation. As promised funding has not yet been provided to DIT and DCU for new degree courses set up for the former SR Technics employees, they face an uncertain future regarding their educational needs.  While some courses continue to go ahead, others have been cancelled and no college has been able to register any of the students until promised funding is provided. The Tánaiste’s office say they applied to the European Commission last October for co-financing support from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) towards the cost of retraining and upskilling the workers made redundant at SR Technics. However, the former workers argue that this application was made too late as they were let go in April. Northside People can reveal that the Government has no guarantee of funding under the scheme unless a sustainable case for assistance can be made. Matt McCormack, who is currently studying under the scheme at All Hallows in Drumcondra, said it was crucial that the Government release its half of the funding so the courses can be registered. “The Government have put aside e14 million for retraining and we need this to be made available now,” he declared. “They brought us all to meet with the colleges late last year and we were promised that we would receive retraining that would be funded by the globalisation fund. “Now we have found out that the Tanaiste did not apply for funding until October and the application has been returned for clarification.” Mr McCormack said that without official registration as students, former SR Technics workers could face serious difficulties when their unemployment benefit runs out next month. “We are almost a year out of work and there has been plenty of time for the Government to resolve this matter,” he told Northside People.  “People on this course need to switch over to the Back to Education grant but we will lose money if we have to wait months to do that. “Courses have already been cancelled at some institutes. If we aren’t registered soon we won’t be able to get the full education grant.” John Devlin, another former SR Technics employee who is now attending All Hallows, said he would be seeking another meeting with the Tanaiste’s office to clarify the situation. “It’s totally off the wall,” stated Mr Devlin. “We need this funding made available to keep the courses going. “We are trying to get the man in charge to sit down and meet with us face to face to discuss the matter. It needs to be sorted as soon as possible. “1,100 people were let go at Technics but it also affects their families, parents and communities. “It seems that the Government don’t want anything to do with us. “There was a possibility of 300 new jobs with Ryanair but they [the Government] threw common sense out the window on that one.” A spokesperson for DIT told Northside People they were waiting for funding to be made available and some courses were currently operating on a no fees basis. The college said that as soon as funding is made available they are ready to register all students and will be reviewing their options in the meantime. Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan, said that in January the European Commission sought additional information in relation to the EGF funding application. “My department is preparing a response to the Commission's request,” she told Northside People. “The EGF application process from initiation to final decision is a lengthy procedure involving not just the European Commission but also the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. “In the case of the EGF application in relation to redundant workers at the Dell plant in County Limerick the approval process took some six months. “Strict eligibility criteria applies and there is no guarantee of success if a sustainable case for EGF assistance cannot be made in support of a Member State's application. “My department is seeking to ensure that such a robust case is made and sustained.”