Loss of up to 70 jobs at Sligo firm a ‘devastating blow’

The announcement of up to 70 jobs losses at Elanco in Sligo has been described as a devastating blow by local business leaders and politicians.

The global animal health company a division of Eli Lilly & Company, has been operating in Sligo since 1991 and currently has a workforce of 166.

On Wednesday it confirmed that as a part of “a restructuring effort” between 60 and 70 jobs are to go at its vaccine manufacturing facility based at Finisklin Industrial Park in Sligo.

Elanco said Sligo would continue to operate as its commercialisation and label and packaging hub for Europe.

The announcement was made to staff at a lunchtime meeting on Tuesday.

An Elanco spokesman said that a 30-day statutory consultation phase will be held to help employees “understand the changes and examine any options that may be available to them”. No details on the time frame for lay-offs will be available until after this period, he said.

The chief executive of Sligo Chamber of Commerce Paul Keyes said one job loss in Co Sligo was the equivalent of more than 20 in Dublin.

“This is a bad day for Sligo and our thoughts are with all at the Sligo Elanco plant and particularly with the staff concerned,” he added.

Mr Keyes said that Sligo must be given the infrastructural and other resources necessary to sustain and attract additional industry.

Fine Gael TD for Sligo-North Leitrim Tony McLoughlin said his first thoughts were with the workers and their families. He is to meet senior executives from Elanco on Friday. He said he had been assured by Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton that IDA Ireland was working hard to win alternative investments for Sligo.

Fianna Fáil senator Marc MacSharry urged the Minister to intervene and to engage with Elanco to "press strongly for the retention of these jobs".

Mr MacSharry accused the government of having neglected the region, “instead of fast-tracking vital access upgrades such as the N4”.