Dell Computers, which employs more than 5,000 people in Limerick and Bray, lost $101 million (€110.3 million) in the second quarter due to charges related to a worldwide redundancy restructuring programme, which also included lay-offs at its Irish operations. For the same quarter last year, it had made an after-tax profit of $603 million.

The multinational computer manufacturer said last night it had no plans for further layoffs. If the pre-tax charge of $742 million for its restructuring programme is deducted from its accounts, the company made a profit of $433 million. Turnover was $7.6 billion, down 1 per cent from last year's figure of $7.7 billion.

In May, Dell announced a voluntary redundancy package for 200 of its 4,500 employees in Limerick as part of a job-cutting measure affecting 4,000 employees worldwide. In June, a further 125 employees were offered redundancy at the Bray and Cherrywood, Dublin, plants.

"We have no plans for any further lay-offs right now," Mr Jerele Neeld, director of corporate affairs for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, said, adding that the company had adopted a "conservative" growth plan.

Unit sales were up 19 per cent worldwide in the last quarter. Within EMEA, shipments were up 24 per cent in a market that declined overall by 2 per cent.

EMEA is served by Dell's factories in Limerick. "Basically we are selling more units at a lower cost," Mr Neeld said.

He added that, while the company does not divulge figures for EMEA, the region's sales had contributed to profits.

The company has made big gains in the German market, the biggest in the EMEA region, and has moved from sixth to third position, behind Fujitsu Siemens and Compaq, in one year. The company has reduced its delivery time from five to four days over the past two quarters and from six to seven days a year ago.