Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan has welcomed the launch of the European Globilisation Fund (EGF) by the Government for those workers of Andersen Ireland in Rathkeale who lost their jobs. The announcement was made by the Minister of State at the Department of Education Ciaran Cannon in Rathkeale.
Patrick O’Donovan said it is vital that all of the State Agencies work together to support the workers who want to up skill and train in order to be able to apply for other jobs. He welcomed the fact that the launch of the EGF was organised by Limerick City and County Council and included the local employment agencies, the Education and Training Board and the Government Departments. He said that the fact that the Government had prioritised Rathkeale for EGF was a clear demonstration of its commitment to ensuring that those that lost their jobs would be able to retrain locally.
Patrick O’Donovan said that comments made by Minister Cannon in Rathkeale were reassuring to those present, who heard the Minister say that a similar initiative in Waterford had been very successful. The engagement of the local community is vital to the success of the EGF scheme and Patrick O’Donovan said he believed that it was very important that those needing advice and assistance should be able to access them locally in Rathkeale and he said having an EGF office or Centre would be very beneficial in the town.
It is expected that the fund, which could be worth a maximum of €2.5million will run up until May 2016. Details of the roll out of the fund will be worked out between the local agencies and the Department of Education but it is expected that career guidance and training, which will be both privately and publicly provided, will be the corner stones of the fund which will also include advice to people who want to set up their own businesses.
Patrick O’Donovan said he would continue to work with the local community in Rathkeale to ensure that the maximum assistance will be given on this occasion to the town. He said that the town had fantastic assets in terms of the facilities and buildings that are available but more importantly the people of Rathkeale whom he said he would help in whatever way he could.