More job losses on the cards

BUSINESS leaders in Arklow and Cobh are bracing themselves for further job losses as the knock-on effects of the closure of the towns’ IFI plants begin to be felt.

“I certainly think another 100 people in Arklow will lose their jobs on top of the backs of those being shed at IFI,” Arklow Chamber of Commerce president Tommy Dunne said yesterday.

Mr Dunne said there were 3,000 workers in Arklow, so the IFI closure and other spin-off job losses would

account for a 10% increase in unemployment.

“A number of local haulage companies have eight to ten lorries on the road, six of which could be contracted directly to IFI. The pay packet from IFI alone in Arklow amounted to nearly 1 million a month,” he said.

Lorcan O’Toole is managing director of a stevedore and shipping agency that handled the IFI contract.

“They were exporting 100,000 tonnes a year and importing up to 60,000 tonnes. It’s a serious blow to the harbour and the shipping part of our business will be badly hit,” Mr O’Toole said.

Iarnród Éireann said it would lose 4 million a year from the transport of ammonia from Cobh to Arklow.

As in Arklow, the domino effect will be felt in Cobh. Mark Pearson, managing director of three companies which benefited from the Marino Point plant, said the ripple effect would be huge.

“We’re only recovering from the loss of Ispat. It is very significant for small companies like ourselves,” Mr Pearson said.

Cobh union leaders believe that up to 200 more jobs could be lost as a result of the 200 job losses at IFI.

Commodore Hotel owner Pat O’Shea estimated his business would lose ten of thousands of euros.