DELL SET TO CUT 1,900 IRISH JOBS!

There had been speculation that many jobs would go at the plant

Computer giant Dell is to cut 1,900 of the 3,000 jobs at its manufacturing site in Limerick in the Irish Republic.

Dell said the move - which will see production moved to a new factory in Poland - was part of a $3bn global cost-cutting effort.

The firm has seen global profits slip because consumers are buying fewer computers as they rein in spending.

Local business leaders predicted the decision would put a further 6,000 jobs in related industries at risk.

Vice-president of Dell's operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Sean Corkery, described the cuts as a "difficult decision but the right one for Dell to become even more competitive, and deliver greater value to customers in the region".

The remaining 1,100 Dell staff will primarily work in product development, engineering and logistics, focused on supporting overseas manufacturing.

The cuts are not set to affect the 1,300 marketing and sales staff at Dell's Cherrywood plant in south Dublin.

Dell opened its first operations in the Irish Republic in 1990, and employed more than 4,500 staff at its peak.

It is the country's biggest exporter and second-largest company, accounting for about 5% of Irish GDP.

BBC NEWS REPORT