Speculation on EU funding support for Cardinal Health workers dampened
Minister for Further and Higher Education; Research; Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan has moved to quell expectations that the 308 workers at Cardinal Health in Tullamore could be in line for funding support under the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF).
The information was provided following a parliamentary question on Wednesday, September 18 on the matter from Offaly-based Independent TD Carol Nolan, who had called on him to make an application to the Fund.
The EGF assists Member States to provide active labour market supports to workers made redundant in major restructuring events.
To date Ireland has made 10 successful applications to the EGF.
Of these, seven applications were submitted on foot of redundancy situations arising from the closure of facilities at Dell, Waterford Crystal, SR Technics (all in 2009), Talk Talk (2011), Andersen Ireland, Lufthansa Technik Airmotive Ireland (both 2014) and PWA International (2015).
The total value of the support’s application for Dell workers, which was subsequently approved by the EU, was €22.8 million.
Minister O’Donovan informed Deputy Nolan that under the EGF rules, Member States such as Ireland may apply for EGF support where at least 200 redundancies take place in a company in a four-month reference period.
He went on to note however that as the Cardinal Health announcement related to 308 redundancies over 15 months, the actual timing of the redundancies will determine if this eligibility criterion is met.
“I know that there has been a lot of speculation by some with respect to EU supports for the Cardinal Health workers and families, and the EGF was the obvious candidate as the conduit for that support,” said Deputy Nolan.
“We now know however that as the redundancies are taking place from April 2025 to June 2026, this option is looking less and less likely.
“That being said, I am aware from my own work on this issue that cases can continue to be approved in exceptional circumstances, where the redundancies will have a serious impact on employment and the local or regional economy.
“To my mind what is happening at Cardinal Health clearly fits into that bracket of exceptional cases. As I have said before, Tullamore losing Cardinal is like Leixlip losing Intel in relative terms.
“I will certainly be making every effort to follow this issue up with the EGF Policy and Operations Unit in the minister’s department, because we cannot and should not allow this issue to fall from government's political radar,.
“If the EU will not provide support then it is imperative that our government cough up and make good on whatever supports are needed for these workers and their families,” concluded Deputy Nolan.