Fears rise for 2,000 Dell jobs in Limerick

There are fears for 2,000 jobs in Limerick following fresh reports that computer firm Dell is scaling down its operations there.

It is understood the company is planning to lay off two-thirds of its 3,000-strong Limerick workforce in the New Year.

Dell wants to transfer manufacturing from its Raheen plant to Eastern Europe and Asia.

The Tánaiste Mary Coughlan and local Government Minister Willie O’Dea travelled to Texas this week to try to persuade Dell to abandon the plan.

Minister O'Dea said more should be known about the fate of the workers after Christmas.

“There is nothing specific about that yet but it will become clear very shortly I would imagine,” he said.