Plant closure would put 15,000 regional jobs at risk, warns chamber

THE chief executive of Limerick Chamber of Commerce warned that as many as 15,000 jobs in the mid-west would be at risk if the Dell plant closed.

Maria Kelly said the jobs ratio between Dell and companies they deal with locally was one-to-five.

“Dell uses sources locally for virtually everything from various products it needs, logistical services, cleaners, taxi services, transport companies.

“The impact regionally and nationally would be devastating.

“Certainly we are talking about 10,000 to 15,000 jobs at risk in the region,” she said.

Dell, the largest single employer in the mid-west, yields annual wage cheques worth €140 million.

Sean Lally, the chamber’s president, said Dell money spreads right through the regional economy.

“Everyone in the mid-west would be affected by something like this.”

He said if jobs were to go, his hope is that it would be a phased downsizing over a number of years.

Mr Lally said: “This would give people employed by Dell an opportunity to reskill and retrain and take advantage of other opportunities that may be in the region. It is not just a Limerick or mid-west problem it is a national problem.”

“If you were to take those kind of wages and spending out of the economy, plus the flip side of that is to add in the potential upturn in social welfare to these people at a time when the economy is strapped for cash, it is really very depressing news,” he said.

Pat Kearney, of Rooney Auctioneers in Limerick, said: “If anything on the scale that is being talked about happens to Dell, it would be very sorrowful news for the Limerick and the wider region along with counties Kerry and Cork. If Dell income is hit, it will pose a huge blow to business.

“The Government decision on giving money to the banks will loosen up and encourage people to invest in the housing market, which has been like a car stuck in gear. But now this Dell situation has appeared.”

Dell workers take up a big percentage of Limerick’s house rental market.

One source said: “Even as things stand, there are a lot of unoccupied houses available for rent. But if Dell went the market would be swamped with empty houses.”