Dell Computer is flying in 130 Scottish workers to its computer assembly plants in Limerick because of a staff shortage in the region.

The company has to meet export orders by the end of October and is offering new recruits £1,200 for three weeks' work to the end of the month.

A company spokesman said yesterday that the workers would have to be up to standard, but they would take them from anywhere.

Staff at the Raheen Industrial Estate plant are travelling from Galway, Cork, Clare and Tipperary.

The Scottish workers, 50 of whom arrived last week, are already trained in assembly-line work. They were provided by one of Dell's suppliers from the Dumfries region, an unemployment black spot in the Scottish lowlands.

Dell's recruitment campaign has attracted 500 people since August.

The US-based company employs 3,400 people in Limerick and the target number is 4,000 by Christmas.

To entice more workers to the plant, the company is running a free weekly lottery for staff with prizes including televisions, videos, holidays abroad and a car. It has also sent letters to its employees in the Limerick area outlining the employment benefits of the company and encouraging the workers to spread the word to friends and relatives.