Mixed news for call centre jobs

THERE was mixed news on the employment front yesterday as 108 people lost their jobs in three Gaeltacht areas, while Cork is to get 150 jobs with the creation of a hotel call centre.

The Marriott group, which employs more than 143,000 people worldwide and has an annual turnover in excess of €10 billion, will shortly announce the creation of 150 jobs at a service centre in Cork.

The centre will deal with reservations and customer care inquiries from Britain and Europe.

Cork was chosen ahead of another location in Britain and an official announcement is expected to be made shortly by the company and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Micheál Martin.

It is believed the project is being backed by the Industrial Development Authority.

The announcement comes only a couple of weeks after Mr Martin announced that Citco, a hedge fund services company, was to create 150 jobs at Blackrock Road.

But bad news came when Glasgow-based company Contact 4 said it would be immediately closing three customer call centres — in Gaoth Dobhair, Co Donegal, Acaill, Co Mayo, and An Daingean, Co Kerry.

A total of 79 full-time and 29 part-time jobs will be lost as a result.

Grants paid to all three companies by Údarás na Gaeltachta have amounted to approximately €3 million.