Intel seeking up to 300 voluntary redundancies in Leixlip

Technology giant Intel is slashing its Irish workforce by up to 300 just three weeks after the multinational's chief said there was no immediate danger of cuts.

The company confirmed it was seeking between 200 and 300 voluntary redundancies at the two plants outside Leixlip, Co Kildare later in the year as part of global cost-cutting.

The multinational joins a long list of high-profile and valuable employers like PC maker Dell, aircraft maintenance SR Technics and communications firm Ericsson to shut down or dramatically cut wage bills.

An Intel spokesman said the factories would not close.

"It's bad news for the workers losing the jobs but it is relatively small numbers in the context of the global cuts," he said.

"Contrary to rumours the site will not be closing. The clear message is that Intel is committed to Ireland and is not closing the site."

In January Intel revealed plans to slash its worldwide workforce by up to 6,000 and shut down five factories in the US, the Philippines and Malaysia.

However, just more than a week after the announcement, Intel's chief Craig Barrett said there was no immediate danger of job cuts in Ireland - although he did warn that the company would take things day by day.

After briefing staff in the plants management said they would return to the workforce in April and begin drawing a list of workers who would be offered voluntary redundancy. The process will run until the end of the summer.

Intel said it had not targeted any particular sector of the business for cuts.

Local Labour TD Emmet Stagg said: "It could have been far worse."

"I earnestly hope that this announcement is the only loss of jobs which we will see in Leixlip and I hope the state agencies and the Tánaiste keep in regular contact with Intel to head off any possible problems which might emerge at some future date."

The US computer chip maker is the most important employer in the region and is widely regarded as one of the country's most valuable businesses.

Fine Gael TD Damien English said the cuts would deal a psychological blow to the country.

"This is a devastating blow to the Leixlip staff and their families, and to the county as a whole," Mr English said.

"It is also a psychological blow to Ireland's hi-tech sector as Intel is a bell-weather employer for the country."

The labour affairs spokesman called on Tánaiste Mary Coughlan to open high level talks with Intel bosses to prevent further cuts and avoid a repeat of the devastating 1,900 cuts at Dell.