More than 320 jobs are to be lost in counties Galway and Dublin with the closure of a construction company and a printing firm.
In Co Galway, more than 160 construction staff are to lose their jobs after the collapse of Bilcon Construction. The firm, which has its headquarters in Portumna, told its employees this morning the company is being placed in liquidation.
The staff, which includes 75 Polish workers, were given leaflets telling them the issues of wages, holiday pay and redundancy pay would be dealt with by the liquidator.
A spokesperson for the Polish workers said they were shocked by the closure and were extremely worried about the closure.
The Polish workers, who are staying in accommodation provided by the company, are to meet again tomorrow to discuss the situation.
Separately in south Dublin, the printing firm, Terenure Printers, is to close with the loss of 160 jobs.
The company prints the Sunday World & the Sunday Tribune.
It is understood the decision was taken at an emergency board meeting following the recent loss of significant printing contracts for a number of publications including the Irish Farmers Journal, Express newspapers and Buy and Sell.
The company, which employs 115 full time and 45 casual staff may close by the end of July.
The €10 million redundancy package for staff will amount to six weeks' pay per year of service including statutory redundancy. It is unclear what arrangements will be made for printing newspapers affected by the closure.
