Minister Halligan welcomes the outcome of the PWA International EGF Programme and congratulates former PWAI workers on achieving Aircraft Structures Technician Certificates
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From: Department of Education
- Published on: 27 February 2018
- Last updated on: 2 October 2019
Minister for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development, John Halligan TD, today (27 February 2018) welcomed the publication of the final report on the PWA International EGF programme, which is available on www.egf.ie.
PWA International Ltd was an aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Rathcoole, Co Dublin, which closed in 2015. Ireland sought and received approval for a programme of labour market supports under the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) on the basis of the sectoral link between this closure and the closure of Lufthansa Technik Airmotive Ireland International in 2014 which was also based in Rathcoole and the significant SR Technics job losses in Dublin in 2009/2010 (the subject of an EGF programme 2009-2011).
The programme targeted 108 workers and also availed of the option to include a similar number of young people, not in employment, education or training (NEETs). The estimated expenditure under the approved programme was €737,156, assuming full take-up of all funding, with the EU co-financing 60% or €442,293 of the expenditure.
A total of 86 workers and 97 young people were assisted under the EGF programme which is the 10th finalised EGF programme managed by the Department of Education and Skills.
Commenting on the programme’s outcomes, Minister Halligan said:
“I am pleased that the EGF has assisted more than 180 people to upskill and retrain through an innovative mix of mainstream and tailored supports in the areas of guidance, training, second and third level education. While a relatively small programme, the take-up rates were very high and the EU funding available was fully drawn down."
"I am also pleased to report that at the end of the programme almost 80% of the former PWA International workers were back in employment and that 30% of the young people have also gained employment. Indeed, today I had the pleasure of presenting award certificates to two of the former PWA International workers who chose to undertake an Aircraft Structures Technician upskilling course at the City of Dublin Education and Training Board. As a direct result of that successful training, these workers have secured re-employment in the aircraft maintenance sector, which is an excellent example of the real value added of EGF support.”
The Minister added:
“The EGF is a concrete instrument of solidarity with those across the EU who are adversely affected by globalisation and the economic and financial crisis. Ireland has a significant track record with the EGF, having undertaken 10 programmes since 2009. Over €41.5m of EGF funding has supported these programmes which assisted some 10,200 redundant workers along with over 400 young people not in employment, education or training.”
ENDS
Notes to the Editor:
The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) is an EU co-financing instrument to assist Member States support workers made redundant as a result of the adverse impacts of globalisation or the global economic and financial crisis, by providing 60% co-financing for approved active labour market programmes of guidance, training, education and enterprise supports. The Fund stands outside the Multi-annual Financial Framework, drawing from savings across the EU budget, subject to a maximum annual amount of €150m.
Eligible redundancy situations are those involving at least 500 redundancies in a specific company (including suppliers/downstream producers) in a 4 month period, or at least 500 redundancies in a specific sector in a 9 month period. However, applications can be considered where these criteria are not entirely met and Member States can substantiate that exceptional circumstances pertain and that the redundancies have a serious impact on employment and the local, regional or national economy. These exceptional circumstances cases cannot exceed 15% of the annual maximum amount available to the EGF. The last three Irish programmes in respect of Andersen Ireland, Lufthansa Technik Airmotive Ireland and PWA International were approved on this basis.
In this programme, the Irish authorities availed of an optional provision (available until the end of 2017), which allowed Member States to assist young people, not in employment, education or training (NEETs) in regions eligible under the Youth Employment Initiative, up to a number equal to the redundant workers targeted.
The 10 Irish EGF programmes were in respect of:
| Programme | Eligibility Criterion | Redundancies |
| Dell | 500+ company redundancies in 4 months | 2,883 |
| Waterford Crystal | 500+ company redundancies in 4 months | 639 |
| SR Technics | 500+ company redundancies in 4 months | 1,006 |
| NACE 41 Building Construction | 500+ sectoral redundancies in 9 months | 4,504 |
| NACE 43 Specialised construction | 500+ sectoral redundancies in 9 months | 2,688 |
| NACE 71 Archictectural Services | 500+ sectoral redundancies in 9 months | 816 |
| Talk | 500+ company redundancies in 4 months | 585 |
| Andersen Ireland | Exceptional Circumstances | 171 |
| Lufthansa Technik Airmotive Ireland | Exceptional Circumstances | 424 |
| PWA International | Exceptional Circumstances | 108 |
A total of 10,198 former workers out of an affected population of 13,824 have been assisted under the 10 completed programmes. In addition, 404 young people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs), provided for under the current EU Regulation governing administration of the EGF, have been assisted in the three most recent programmes. Total expenditure on these programmes was €65.22m, of which €41.5m was EGF co-financing.
For further details see www.egf.ie.