B&Q hopes to save stores in examinership

An interim examiner has been appointed to B&Q Ireland’s nine home improvement stores, which employ almost 700.

Two of the stores — Athlone and Waterford — are to be closed as part of cost-cutting proposals, with a consequent loss of jobs.

The company employs 690, made up of 190 full- time positions and 500 part-time jobs, in stores in Cork, Galway, Liffey Valley, Limerick, Naas, Swords, Tallaght, Athlone and Waterford.