The European Parliament has today endorsed a €21 million fund to help retrain up to 1,900 Dell workers made redundant by the decision of the computer company to move production from Limerick to a new operation in Poland.
The decision to grant the aid package was carried by 591 votes in favour and 61 against.
In January Dell announced it was planning to move its Raheen operation in the mid-west to a lower-cost environment in Lodz, shedding some 1,900 jobs. Some 230 jobs were also lost in March from the company's Cherrywood operation in south Dublin.
Under the deal the EU is providing €14.3 million of the €21 million fund, with the balance being borne by the Government.
Labour MEP for Munster/Ireland South Alan Kelly welcomed today's announcement saying the money represented "a real and genuine hand up for people as opposed to a hand-out".
However, he called on the Government to move quickly to arrange training for ex-employees, noting that the funds will have to be returned if they are not spent within 18 months.