The Dingle Ice plant, the most modern in the country and used by Spanish and Irish fishing trawlers off the southwest, is to close today with the loss of two jobs, contract staff have been told. The Bord Iascaigh Mhara-run plant was threatened with closure last year, but this was postponed after political pressure led to an extension of the contracts.
Local Údarás na Gaeltachta member and Kerry county councillor Séamus Cosaí Fitzgerald said fishermen were very worried about the closure. Two staff were employed, he added, but the computerised plant was vital to the fishing industry locally. He said the plant should be transferred to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
A BIM spokeswoman said a Government embargo prevented any extension of the terms of contract workers. If people were contract staff, they had to be let go.
Negotiations were taking place yesterday between the Department of Fisheries and Public Expenditure to extend the contracts by two months, it is understood.