221 people set to lose their jobs as mine winds down

THE latest jobs blow in a week of economic doom hit Kilkenny when it was confirmed that 221 people will lose their jobs in the imminent closure of Galmoy Mines.

SIPTU has called for the Government, Enterprise Ireland and Fás to help the workers retrain and find alternative employment as the company gradually winds down between now and 2011.

The first in a series of cuts is scheduled this December, when 36 employees will be made redundant, and the job losses will then be staggered across 2009 and 2010 with the mine scheduled to finally close in 2011.