The Tánaiste and Social Protection Minister's revealed she personally met the former workers of Clerys this morning to discuss their entitlements.

Joan Burton's told the Dáil she's now instructed all welfare offices in the greater Dublin area to ensure speedy processing of claims for jobseekers benefit.

She says workers will be helped out as quickly as possible:

Some of the 50 businesses which had concessions in Clerys were allowed into the building to retrieve their stock today.

Concession holders estimate that they have around €3m worth of goods in the store, which announced last Friday that it was to close immediately.

However according to the Irish Independent, the situation regarding about €2m in cash due to be paid to the concession holders this week looks bleak.

It after Clerys' liquidators, KPMG, said there was not enough cash available to cover the payments.

Yesterday they told unions that there was no money left to cover the cost of redundancies or back pay.

They say that the State Insolvency Fund is the only avenue open to workers.