The future of the Wasdell site in Dundalk must be made clear by its new owners, Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú has said.
The Dundalk TD was speaking after it was revealed that the plant is to close by the end of this month with the loss of an estimated 220 jobs.
Wasdell’s asset, a 90,000 sqft pharmaceutical packaging and storage facility in Dundalk, has recently been acquired by PCI Pharma Services but the deal did not include the employees or Wasdell’s customers.
Deputy Ó Murchú said the loss of the jobs was a ‘massive blow’ to the workers and their families and urged State agencies, including the IDA, to ensure that the factory is not ‘moth balled and left to rot’.
He said: ‘This is a massive blow to the workers and their families who have given great service to this company and are now left facing unemployment. I am aware that there have been enhanced redundancy offers made and I understand that many of the employees have already left the site, with the remainder to go by the end of this month.
‘‘All the arms of the State should be used to support those who are losing their jobs to find alternative employment and be assisted through this very difficult time.
‘The government must ensure that there is a ‘skills audit’ carried out on those who are being made redundant to ensure that their transition into other suitable employment is as seamless as possible.
‘The obvious macro issue is that Wasdell have only been here for a relatively short time and I believe there had been State agency engagement ahead of this announcement of closure.
‘I have sought an update from the IDA and from PCI Pharma Services about what is happening’.
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