Oil rigs option for redundant workers

He made the comments in relation to six local workers at engineering firm Forth and Foyle, which ceased trading in October with the loss of eight jobs in the city.

A further 14 jobs were to go in Larne and Scotland but the 10 jobs in Larne were saved.

Eight people working in the firm’s Londonderry office received no reprieve, however.

Now Dr Stephen Farry says he has asked his officials to seek a list of preferred training programmes from six of the redundant workers from the city as a matter of urgency.

Sinn Féin MLA Maeve McLaughlin asked the Minister whether he could offer an assurance that the six remaining former employees of Forth and Foyle will be offered training programmes as a matter of urgency.

Dr Farry replied: “My officials have been pro-active and along with colleagues from the Social Security Agency; they have already met with the six former employees of Forth and Foyle on the 2 November 2012 at their premises at Skeoge Industrial Estate.

“During this meeting, each employee was spoken to individually to give him/her appropriate benefit guidance and advice, and for those who wished to make claims to Job Seekers Allowance, appointments were made in both Foyle and Lisnagelvin Jobs and Benefits Offices.

“My officials outlined the range of DEL services available to them, including upskilling, identifying alternative employment, and a Self Employed Test Trading option.

“The employees indicated that they would be interested in availing of specialised training specifically in relation to off shore work on both oil rigs and wind turbines.”

During these meetings Dr Farry said the workers indicated they were keen to update and improve their CVs and that his officials agreed to assist them in this through Job Clubs in both Foyle and Lisnagelvin Jobs and Benefits Offices.

Dr Farry said they would be eligible for a range of assistance under the Steps to Work programme (StW).

“My Department’s ability to fund these will of course be dependent on the costs and whether or not these courses are available in Northern Ireland.

“My staff also made an initial enquiry with Invest NI on their behalf, to see if they could provide any assistance.

“It was agreed that the employees would compile a list of courses and send these to my staff, who would in turn consider these with our local StW Lead Contractor, Bryson Future Skills.

“To date my officials have not received this list, so on the 8 November 2012, they followed up on this; however I will ask them to do so again as a matter of urgency,” he concluded.