Barroso announces €14.8 million of EU funding to help 2,400 former Dell workers in Ireland.

President José Manuel Barroso today announced that the European Commission has approved an application from Ireland for assistance from the European Globalisation adjustment Fund (EGF).  The grant of €14.8 million would help 2,400 redundant workers in the computer industry to find new jobs. The application, one of the first to benefit from the new EU crisis measures, will now go to the European Parliament and the Council of the EU for agreement.

"The economic crisis is affecting all European countries but Limerick and the surrounding area have been hit hard by job losses at the local Dell plant and its suppliers," said President Barroso. "The EU is built on solidarity.  Our natural response is to come to the aid of those who are experiencing difficulties and to take decisive action to tackle the jobs impact of the crisis. The EGF is one way the EU is helping redundant workers back into jobs, and I am glad that these workers will be able to benefit from the help the EGF can provide."

Speaking this morning at Limerick City Hall, President Barroso reminded his audience of local councillors and representatives of community groups of a host of other measures the European Union has been taking to support Ireland at this time of crisis:

The EU €400 bn recovery plan.  This is helping the main EU economies like Germany and France to recover and will create much needed demand for Irish goods and services

• The EU has worked together to avoid a meltdown of European financial markets and we are now putting in place a more stringent supervisory system for the future
• The ECB has lent more than €120 bn to the Irish banking system (that's 15% of total ECB lending). Being in the Euro area has provided a vital anchor of stability for Ireland at this difficult time
• The European Investment Bank  has increased its lending to small and medium sized Irish companies by €350 m

President Barroso added: "I am very glad that the Commission can demonstrate concretely the Union's solidarity with Limerick and the surrounding area in this manner. I can also say that if any further applications are made from Ireland or elsewhere we will look at them in the same spirit of solidarity."