A GRANT of €14.8m to help former workers at Dell in Limerick to find new jobs has been approved by the European Commission.
The President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso made the announcement while visiting Limerick on Saturday. He is in Ireland to campaign for a Yes vote in the Lisbon Treaty referendum.
The grant application was made by the Irish Government for assistance from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund and is one of the first countries to benefit from new EU crisis measures.
The European Parliament and the Council of the EU must now endorse the agreement.
Last January, Dell announced 1,900 job cuts at its Limerick plant as it transferred part of its operations to Poland.
During a lunchtime visit to the city Mr Barroso said: “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. 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.”
Also present at City Hall, were Minister Willie O’Dea, Peter Power, and Mayor of Limerick Kevin Kiely.
