An electronics firm with a plant in west Dublin yesterday confirmed that it is restructuring its Irish operations, which will result in the loss of 230 jobs.
Creative Labs said it was outsourcing some operations at its plant at Ballycoolin Industrial Estate in Blanchardstown, Dublin, to lower-cost locations overseas.
The jobs will be shed between now and the end of January following a global review of the company's operations.
However, the Singapore-based company said that its European headquarters, which employs about 200 people, will remain in Dublin.
On Friday, the company closed its assembly-line operation, which made digital musical players. It is to be outsourced with the loss of 90 jobs.
The company said yesterday a further 140 jobs would be outsourced, including the manufacturing and logistics functions at its European headquarters.
At its peak, more than 500 people worked at the Ballycoolin site, which distributed Creative Labs' soundcard product throughout Europe.
The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin, expressed disappointment at yesterday's announcement and said he would be in contact with the State's employment creation agencies asking them to prioritise west Dublin.
Labour TD for Dublin West Joan Burton described the news as a "major blow" to employees and the area in general. "First and foremost my sympathies are with these employees," she said in a statement. "No time is good to hear that you are losing your job, but immediately before Christmas is particularly cruel."
She said the news was worrying given the job review underway at the nearby Xerox plant, which could potentially result in significant job losses.