Staff at Intel’s manufacturing operation in Leixlip, Co Kildare have been told that the company expects to seek two to three hundred voluntary redundancies in April.
The move is part of a wider cost cutting at group level which saw Intel announce the closure of five factories in the US, the Phillipines and Malaysia in January.
At that time the company, which is the world’s largest maker of computer chips, said it would be seeking an additional 1,000 redundancies worldwide.
Intel briefed staff in Leixlip this afternoon and said that it would be seeking to reduce headcount by 200 to 300 during its second quarter, which begins in April.
An Intel spokesman confirmed that staff had been briefed as part of a commitment to provide updated information within 30 days of the initial announcement. He said the exact number of redundancies was not yet known but would depend on demand for computer products.
“The clear message is that Intel is committed to Ireland and is not closing the site,” said the spokesman. “While people are losing their jobs, the site is in safe hands.”
Labour Party TD for Kildare North Emmet Stagg said he was disappointed at Intel's announcement, but acknowledged that it could have been worse.
"With 5,000 employees in Ireland, Intel is one of the countries largest employers and the plant at Leixlip is critical to the local economy of North Kildare," he said.
"I earnestly hope that this announcement is the only loss of jobs which we will see in Leixlip and I hope the State agencies and the Tánaiste keep in regular contact with Intel to head off any possible problems which might emerge at some future date."
Fine Gael labour affairs spokesman Damien English TD said the job losses were a "devastating blow" to staff and their families, and to the county as a whole.
"It is also a psychological blow to Ireland's hi-tech sector as Intel is a bell-weather employer for the country," he said.
"The lesson learned from Dell is that the Government waited too long to take action, resulting in the loss of all 1,900 jobs. We cannot allow a similar situation to develop at Intel."