MEPs in the European Parliament have voted to approve a €21 million fund to help retrain up to 1,900 Dell workers being made redundant from the computer company's plant in Limerick, writes Arthur Beesley in Strasbourg.

There were 591 votes in favour of the allocation from the €500 million EU global adjustment fund, 55 against and 28 abstentions. The EU will pay €14.3 million and the Government will pay the balance.

The Government has sought €8.82 million from the same EU fund to support workers made redundant from aircraft maintenance firm SR Technics and €2.57 million to support workers who lost their jobs at Waterford Crystal.