Government’s hi-tech hopes falter as Freescale axes 50 jobs
Almost 50 well-paid, highly qualified IT design workers are set to lose their jobs after global US-based Freescale Semiconductors announced it is entering into a consultation period with staff at its only Irish operation — a design centre based at the Cork Airport business park. The firm is likely to close by September.
All the workers are college graduates and about 10% have PhDs. More than half have a masters degree.
Many of the employees were working with pioneering IT firms abroad and returned to Ireland to join the company. They are the types of high-end jobs the Government is trying to attract.
Senior Freescale managers from the US made the shock announcement to staff at 11am yesterday. They said pending the outcome of a 30-day consultation period starting next week, the plant will close.
Freescale spokesman Robert Hatley said it is streamlining its global design centre operations, trying to achieve efficiencies and consolidate its cost base.
A centre in Scotland could also close under the process.
The work at the Cork centre will be absorbed by Freescale’s other design centres, and staff will be offered redeployment options, Mr Hatley said.
The news comes just days after Blackrock-based Hormann Electronics announced its closure with the loss of 138 jobs.
Fine Gael Senator Jerry Buttimer described this latest IT jobs blow for Cork as “extremely worrying”.
“Cork could become a waste-yard for our skilled workforce if the Government doesn’t take immediate action — and not just lip service,” he said.
“I am calling now on the Tánaiste and Enterprise Minister Mary Coughlan to convene a summit of interest groups in Cork city and county and draw up a blueprint to attract and retain IT jobs in Cork.”
Freescale’s Cork operation was established in 1998 with just two employees as part of the now closed Motorola group which was based in Mahon.
They developed hi-tech system engineering and back-up systems for mobile phone networks.
Many of the products designed at the Cork centre are found in Motorola phones and Blackberry devices.
Meanwhile, there was good news on the jobs front in Donegal yesterday.
Outsourcing firm, Forward Emphasis International Ltd is to establish its second contact centre on the Gaoth Dobhair Business Park, creating 100 jobs over the next three years.
The company is being grant assisted by Údarás na Gaeltachta.
