The 180 employees at the Kepak meat plant, which was destroyed by fire in Co Cork at the weekend, were considering their future yesterday. The likelihood is that most of them will have to sign on the dole.
The plant, at Watergrasshill near Fermoy, was destroyed last Sunday.
The 180 employees at the plant, which processes 80,000 livestock annually, include Brazilian and Polish workers, but most of the workforce is located in nearby Midleton.
The company spent most of yesterday trying to reassure customers that orders can be filled through its other plants in the Republic. Gardai have said the fire was not started maliciously.