GERMANY'S LEADING news agency Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA) is to close its English language service in Cork this week after six years in the country.
Managers cited recruitment difficulties and the rising cost of doing business for the decision to relocate the operation to Berlin.
"At the moment, despite German taxes and non-wage costs, Berlin is cheaper than Cork," said Dr Heinz-Rudolf Othmerding, head of DPA's foreign service.
DPA moved its English-language operation to Cork in 2002 and employed 15 people, all but two of whom will move to Berlin.
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The Cork operation gathered reports from DPA bureaux in Germany and in more than 100 other countries worldwide and generated English-language content.