The owners of C&D Pet Foods, the Co Longford pet food factory which was forced to shed 280 workers after a fire in January, have asked for some breathing space before they announce their future intentions.
This follows an emergency meeting of Longford County Council on Monday which was called to discuss the job losses. One local councillor said the managing director of C&D Pet Foods was "fully committed to redeveloping" the business in Edgeworthstown.
Cllr Mick Cahill (Fianna Fáil) signalled at the meeting that managing director Philip Reynolds - son of former taoiseach Albert Reynolds - had told him the redevelopment of the business would go ahead when the site was cleared in a fortnight.
However, in a statement issued yesterday, Mr Reynolds said while Mr Cahill was "correct" about the demolition and site clearance, they would not be making "any announcement before a full and proper evaluation of all its options at the appropriate time".
He added: "The past two months have been particularly difficult for staff - 272 of whom have by now received their redundancy payments - and for customers who have been without supplies for most of that time, and are now presently concluding sensitive negotiations in relation to new supplies.
"Calling on the company at this time to clarify its position in relation to its future development plans is unfair to both staff, who have been made redundant, and to loyal, and in certain cases, ongoing customers of C&D Foods."
Since the fire on January 16th, C&D has managed to bring 230 members of staff back to work, while 20 others have been promised jobs in a new packaging business beside the plant.
Meanwhile 129 ex-C&D workers have completed a week-long careers' course with Fás as they try to make a new start to their working lives.