Four firms announce 658 job losses

Four companies have announced a total of 658 job losses today in Dublin, Armagh and Antrim.

It was confirmed this afternoon that 220 staff are to lose their jobs at technology firm SerCom Solutions in Clondalkin in Dublin.

The company, which is a subsidiary of DCC, will close its loss making Dublin operation on 29 April 2005.

It is consolidating its operation at its Limerick plant, which employs 300 people at present, and it is hoped that some new jobs may eventually be created there.

32 jobs will be retained in a smaller Dublin facility to provide support services to the remaining group activities.

In a statement, the company said it had been hit by the trend among technology companies using its services to relocate to Eastern Europe and Asia.

There has also been a drop in the demand for print services which were a central element at the Clondalkin plant.

Jefferson Smurfit to close paper mill

Jefferson Smurfit is closing its paper mill in Clonskeagh with the loss of 58 full-time and 12 part-time jobs. The plant has been in operation for 51 years.

The company cited higher energy costs and environmental charges as among the reasons for the closure.

The closure of the Smurfit Paper Mill is a significant blow for recycling in Ireland, according to packaging recycling scheme Repak.

Andrew Hetherington of Repak said, 'This announcement further increases our reliance on overseas markets, which diminishes our control and increases the complexity and costs of recycling. The closure of Irish Glass and Smurfit's combined reduce our indigenous recycling capacity by approximately 90,000 tonnes per annum.'

380 job losses in Northern Ireland

Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, up to 380 jobs are to go at a medical production firm and a cigarette factory.

Teleflex Medical's premises in Co Armagh is to close as part of a global restructuring strategy with the loss of up to 300 jobs.

It is thought more than 20 outlets worldwide will be hit by the decision taken by bosses in the United States.

Separately in Co Antrim, the Gallagher tobacco group has confirmed it is to cut 80 jobs at its plant in Lisnafillan outside Ballymena.

The cigarette manufacturer said the job losses are part of a plan to cut 250 jobs at the firm across Europe.