State plays down report on jobs impact of Dell closure

A REPORT predicting almost 9,500 jobs could be lost in the mid-west region as a result of the closure of Dell’s manufacturing facility in Limerick was based on a “worse-case scenario”, according to the Government.

Details of the report prepared by Forfás, the state policy advisory body for enterprise and science, were published in yesterday’s Irish Examiner.

However, a spokesman for Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan claimed yesterday the report was based on a “worst-case scenario” that would see employment at the US computer manufacturer in Limerick fall by 2,510.