Call centre closure to cost 84 jobs

Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin tonight expressed his surprise and disappointment at the closure of a customer contact centre in Co Cork.

Mr Martin said the announcement by Cims that it is to close its facility in Mahon was a huge blow to the area.

“I very much regret the impact it will have on the workforce and their families,” he said.

“This evening I have arranged that FÁS will carry out an immediate assessment of the skills of the workforce and to arrange whatever retraining may be necessary to help those involved find alternative employment.”

Minister Martin said the most important task now is for the development agencies to provide whatever support and assistance is necessary in order to identify alternative investments for the facility.

Workers were told today that the customer contact centre will close on March 19 with the loss of 84 jobs.

Cims provides 24-hour assistance to customers of financial institutions including the Royal Bank of Scotland, Norwich Union and Lloyds TSB.

Workers are understood to have been offered the option of redeployment to the company’s operations in Portsmouth, England.