Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
LAST UPDATE | 30 Jun
INTEL IS SET to cut up to 195 jobs at its chip manufacturing plant in Leixlip, Co Kildare.
The company has informed the government, via a collective redundancy notification submitted to the Department of Enterprise, that the staff could face compulsory redundancy.
Approximately 4,900 people are employed at the Leixlip plant.
The Journal understands that there is no confirmation yet on which part of the plant will be impacted by the cuts and that the staff affected have not yet been informed.
Today’s development comes after it was reported in April of this year that the company was planning to cut over 20% of its global workforce, which numbered approximately 109,000 employees at the end of last year.
At the time of the reports in April, the company’s CEO announced that there would be employment reductions and a tighter return-to-work policy put in place following the publication of the firm’s quarterly earnings report.
In Ireland, it was speculated that up to 1,000 jobs could be at risk.
Reacting to the news today, Kildare North TD Aidan Farrelly said a plan must be rapidly put in place to support the impacted staff.
“We must see a full suite of supports provided by Intel and the State – those affected need to be made aware of their rights, entitlements, and any offers of up-skilling or access to further education,” the Social Democrats TD said.
“The Minister [for Enterprise, Peter Burke] should also make clear that these supports, should they be required, will be available and in place immediately – I made this call in April when news of potential redundancies first emerged.”
Local councillor Nuala Killeen told The Journal that the job losses will be felt in Leixlip.
“I would be looking for those staff to be given supports to transition. I know previously Intel provided support for staff impacted by redundancy,” Killeen said.
“The staff have a robust skillset that will be much sought after by other employers.”
The Labour Party’s enterprise spokesperson, TD George Lawlor, said the news comes as a major blow for Ireland’s tech sector and raises “serious questions about how this Government is supporting workers during large-scale corporate restructurings.”
“Ireland’s economy relies heavily on our multinational sector. When a company like Intel – confirms job cuts, the consequences reach far beyond those receiving redundancy notices. It affects local shops, cafés, childcare providers, – the knock-on impact for communities will be harsh,” he said.
Sinn Féin TD for North Kildare Réada Cronin described the news of the redundancies as “a crushing blow for workers, their families and communities”.
“Coupled with the cost-of-living crisis, this is an incredibly stressful time for workers and their families, and it is imperative that the government supports them,” she said.
“What these job losses show is how fragile our FDI base can be. Government and agencies such as IDA and Enterprise Ireland need to demonstrate agility and innovation in responding to these crises.”
When approached outside the Leixlip plant by The Journal for comment, the replies from Intel staff leaving work were largely the same – they had not heard anything about the job cuts.
“Nothing, absolutely nothing. We never know what happens here,” one office worker told us.
“We haven’t heard anything inside,” two engineers said.
“A few of us saw the news reported, I got a news alert about it, but nothing was said by management.”
One Intel lab worker waiting at a nearby bus stop said that he had not heard about the job losses at all, and jokingly said it was “lovely news to hear at the end of work”.
“It is not surprising, I have heard it happened before here,” he said.
Many others declined to comment.
Brian, a construction worker on the Leixlip site, said it will be “the same as last time”, referring to cuts in August 2024.
“They’ve surprised staff like this before. I’m lucky enough that I’m on-site construction but it’s hard to tell where will be worst hit”
With reporting from Andrew Walsh
have your say