Up to 140 jobs at the Smurfit Kappa plant in Cork are to go, while Bausch & Lomb is seeking 120 redundancies in Waterford.
Smurfit Kappa workers were told at a meeting this morning that the Cork plant was to be 'rationalised' because of the downturn in the market.
It is one of nine paper plants operated by the Smurfit Kappa group in the country.
A meeting with SIPTU has been scheduled for tomorrow to discuss the planned lay-offs.
30 jobs are to be retained to service local clients in the Cork area.
Bausch & Lomb has confirmed it is seeking 120 redundancies at its Waterford plant.
The plant currently employs 1,200 people manufacturing contact lenses and other eye health products.
The announcement came after management met staff and union representatives last night and this morning.
Elsewhere, a plumbing and electrical company has announced it is to create 70 new jobs in the Leinster region.
O'Kane Plumbing and Electrics is to create the new jobs over a three-year period but will begin accepting applications in three months’ time.
The company is expanding its renewable energy service.
It says it will be seeking to hire skilled tradespeople and surveyors along with administrative and managerial staff.
