Elan to shed 29 jobs in Athlone

Elan is to cut 29 jobs at its plant in Athlone, Co Westmeath.

Elan is to cut 29 jobs at its plant in Athlone, Co Westmeath.

Elan cut 115 jobs in Ireland in the February, and now employs 550 people between its Athlone and Dublin sites.

The company's management said in July it had no further plans to cut jobs following its deal with US pharma giant Johnson Johnson.

It said jobs at its Athlone plant would be secured for the “foreseeable future” by the manufacture of a new drug Fampridine.

Labour’s enterprise, trade and employment spokesman Willie Penrose said the cuts would be “another blow" for a region that has already suffered significant job losses over the past twelve months. "The Government must request the industrial development agencies to make the area a priority for investment and job creation," he said.