Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD, Seán Crowe, has called the reports of the loss of more than 60 jobs at Cadbury’s Tallaght factory as a shock to the community and said it will have wide ranging repercussions for the families of those losing the jobs and the local economy.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“Cadbury-owner Mondelez has announced plans to close its gum production plant in Tallaght with the reported loss of over 60 jobs and that the plant will fully close next year.  It was only opened a short while ago, in 2006.

“I am gutted with these job losses particularly as they are currently located in a community which really can’t take any more negative hits and job losses.

“The continued departure of traditional industries and the manufacturing jobs they brought has had a devastating effect on Tallaght and its hinterland as they are not easily replaced.

“SIPTU have announced that its members who worked in the plant were shocked to hear of the news and angry that their jobs are now being located to Poland.

“Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, needs to explain if the Government had any advanced warning of these job losses and if they tried to do anything to stop them, or indeed if there is anything they can do at this late hour to stop them.

“A fair deal for these employees must follow this announcement and the Government need to provide them with adequate supports and most importantly explain how they will replace these jobs.”

ENDS