The European Commission has approved payments to certain Irish Ispat workers who were made redundant as a result of the closure of the company in June 2001, the Tánaiste, Ms Harney said today.
The Commission has approved the maximum aid amount of €3,000 (£2,362.69) per worker. The payments are to be made under the scheme of European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) Re-adaptation Aid
The Government intends to pay the required matching funding to the former workers in advance of the receipt of the funds from the Commission. "This will mean that the workers will receive the Government contribution before Christmas," Ms Harney said.
The Tánaiste added that the Government's payment will be made to all the workers regardless of length of service.
However, the payment from the Commission will only apply to workers who have more than one year's service and who would not have reached normal pensionable age at the time of being made redundant.