Braun to lay off 225 Carlow workers

The Braun electrical firm has announced plans to lay off 225 workers at its factory in Carlow town.

In a statement today the company said the posts would go over the next six months, bringing their total of employees at the factory down to 580 from 805.

The head of the Industrial Development Agency in the south-east, Brian Conroy, said it was regrettable that Braun was making the job cuts and the reduction reflected the cost pressures the company was under.

An Tanaiste Mary Harney said that she was extremely disappointed by the news of job losses at Braun, who have had a base in Carlow since 1974, with a one-time workforce there of more than 1,000.

She said the priority now was to find alternative employment for those who would lose their jobs as a result of the decision.