15,000 jobs at risk if Dell cuts back at Raheen plant- Report

As the mainstream media continues to report the fallout of a likely Dell cut in jobs, there are more reports today of how thousands more jobs will be lost in wake of the cutbacks.

Talk is beginning to emerge also about possible Government contingency plans for when D-day comes. The Examiner has comments from Limerick TD Willie O Dea on the matter

Opposition TDs last night urged the Taoiseach to intervene in the crisis.
However, even bleaker days could be ahead for the region as it is estimated that up to 15,000 people who are employed in subsidiary industries will be affected.

Mr O’Dea said: “Whatever outfall takes place, the Government will have a strategy ready to deal with it immediately it happens and all those things will become very clear shortly.

“We have been working very hard both on getting the best possible deal, in view of the fact that Dell are restructuring, and also in putting a number of things in place that will alleviate the economic impact in this region from any fallout.”

He said they have been working hard to put in place what he called “meliorating measures”.

This meliorating work, the minister said, would continue over Christmas. “There will be a big focus by the Government on filling any gaps left by Dell. We have been working very hard and very long and the work continues over Christmas,” he said.

Limerick Chamber of Commerce chief executive Maria Kelly has said in a news report, she has resigned herself to hoping that when the job cuts are announced, they are “spread out over a number of years”

"This is not a regional issue, this is devastating nationally, Dell paid EUR140 million in wages last year. That amount of people going out of work in one fell swoop, not to mention the 10,000 to 15,000 others that rely on Dell, will have a devastating impact on the national economy. All we are hoping for, if this news is true, is that it is spread out over a number of years."