Up to 178 jobs to go later in summer

Up to 178 workers are to lose their jobs within the next two months with the closure of a recycling machinery business in Co Westmeath and a bakery in Co Cork.

Powerscreen Ltd, which manufactures screening and separating equipment for the waste-recycling, landfill and quarry industries, is to close its plant in Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath, with the loss of 118 jobs at the end of September.

The Dungannon-based business, which is owned by the US company, Terex, has cited a combination of "changes in the marketplace, product issues, increased manufacturing costs and exchange rate pressures" as the reason for the closure in Kilbeggan.

A spokesman for the company said that production of the screening equipment, used to separate materials such as quarry aggregate, coal, gravel, topsoil, compost and wood bark, as well as recycling construction waste, will be moved to other companies within the Terex group.

All 118 workers at the Kilbeggan plant were informed by management yesterday that their jobs were to go. The first redundancies are to begin at the start of next month, with complete closure due at the end of September.

"This is not an easy decision to make," Powerscreen management said in a statement last night. "Powerscreen has a long and proud association with Kilbeggan and its people."

Details of any redundancy package are not yet available, but discussions with union representatives are due to begin within the next few days.

Powerscreen's general manager, Mr Kieran Heggarty, was not available for comment last night.

Meanwhile, up to 50 jobs in Cork will be lost when a Macroom bakery closes at the end of August, writes Louise Geaney.

One of the country's largest bakery's, Neville Brothers Ltd, announced it will close on August 8th, after almost 50 years in business.

The renowned family business is the chief supplier of Dunnes Store own-brand bread and has been supplying bread in the north-west Cork area since the mid-1950s.

"A comprehensive redundancy package has been put in place for our 49 workers, and a firm of outplacement specialists has been engaged to offer guidance and career transition support," the company said in a statement, adding that it was with regret and sadness that the decision was taken to close the business.

Attributing the closure to the increasing costs of insurance, transport, haulage and fuel, the bakery also said the own-brand market had been a tight one for some time.