Jobs axed as P&O shuts Rosslare link

BRITISH ferry operator P&O is to shut its Rosslare-Cherbourg route as part of an €80 million cost-cutting programme that will see 1,200 staff lose their jobs.

The company said few Irish jobs would be lost, but Irish Rail warned it would need talks with the company to find out the effect on 90 of its Rosslare Europort staff that conduct loading work on P&O’s behalf.

P&O’s move is part of a plan that will see the number of ships it operates cut from 31 to 23 as it closes down four of its 13 routes serving Britain, Ireland and the continent.