Approval for €2.7m TalkTalk payment

THE EUROPEAN Commission has approved a €2.7 million payment to Ireland to assist hundreds of workers affected by the closure of the TalkTalk offices in Waterford last year in returning to work.

The proposal under the European Globalisation Fund would involve the money, which is to be matched by the Government, being used to providing training and education grants, career guidance or support to begin businesses to 432 people who worked for TalkTalk and three of its former suppliers.

The proposal requires the backing of the European Parliament and the EU’s Council of Ministers. An EC spokesman said the process should be completed in the autumn.

Minister of State for Training and Skills Ciarán Cannon said the development augured well for a positive outcome to the application for support, which was lodged in February. He said he met members of the TalkTalk Redundant Workers’ Association last week and was heartened to hear almost half of those affected had made inquiries about accessing the fund.

“The next key step is to encourage those making inquiries to avail of the wide range of reskilling and enterprise services available,” he said.

TalkTalk, a broadband provider, closed its operations in Waterford last October with the loss of 575 jobs.