More than 100 jobs to be lost at Blarney company

MORE than 100 employees of a Cork company are set to lose their jobs following a decision to relocate all operations from the company’s Blarney facility to facilities in Poland and Mexico.

ILC Dover, located in Blarney Business Park, is a world leader in the innovative design and production of solutions for biopharmaceutical, pharmaceutical, and medical device markets as well as a leading supplier for the (aero)space industries.

The company confirmed to The Echo on Thursday that it had made the difficult decision, which is subject to a 30-day consultation period, to relocate all operations to facilities in Gliwice in Poland and Juarez in Mexico.

The company confirmed that the Blarney facility is scheduled to close in Q1 of 2024 and that approximately 110 employees will be impacted by the decision.

A statement issued to The Echo read: “Given the unexpected macroeconomic conditions the industry has faced, and the significant capacity ILC Dover now has, we have had to re-evaluate our operational footprint. As a result of this evaluation, the Company has decided to relocate all operations from Blarney, Ireland to Gliwice, Poland and Juarez, Mexico and will close our facility in Blarney in Q1 of 2024.” 

Chief Operating Officer (COO) for ILC Dover Scott Watson said: “This is a very difficult day for our Blarney employees and the decision to close the facility was taken after a detailed evaluation of our operational footprint reflecting a softer macroeconomic environment.

“This decision in no way overshadows the Blarney team’s exceptional performance, as well as the team’s commitment to safety and quality over the past few years.” 

The company said that while production continues, ILC Dover management will enter a consultation period with its employees with a goal to support employees through the wind-down process.

Independent councillor Kenneth O'Flynn described the job losses as “a serious blow to our community” and said the news serves as “a wake-up call to the government that we can no longer rely solely on big pharma jobs”.

Speaking to The Echo, Mr O’Flynn said: “It is crucial that we shift our focus towards establishing and supporting small to medium businesses in our community. The concentration of efforts on cutting red tape and creating a favourable environment for local enterprises is now more important than ever.

“In addition to this loss of employment, our community is facing numerous challenges, including the ever-increasing cost of living and the lack of rental accommodation for the private sector. These issues need to be addressed promptly and effectively.

“My heart goes out to the individuals who have been affected by these job losses, many of whom are personally known to me and live within my family home parish of Blarney. This situation highlights the importance of fostering a better economic environment to retain existing companies in Cork and attract new ones to our local economy.

“Our focus must be on supporting and working for the benefit of our small to medium businesses, as they are the backbone of our community and vital for a thriving local economy.” 

Mr O’Flynn said he will actively engage with the government to highlight the urgency of the matter and advocate for the necessary support to be extended to those affected by the job losses.

“We must also explore avenues to foster economic growth and job creation within our community,” he said.

“I encourage local residents, businesses, and stakeholders to come together and collaborate on finding innovative solutions to the challenges we face.

“By working collectively, we can create an environment that supports job retention, economic growth, and a better future for our community.”