Closure of Sudocream site another blow for Baldoyle
- Answers needed from Tánaiste and IDA about how these jobs were lost.
- Taskforce needed to find alternative users for the Baldoyle sites.
- Ministers must ensure all necessary supports are put in place for workers.
The loss of more than 100 jobs is another huge blow for the Northside, said local TD and Labour Enterprise spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin who will be seeking answers from the Tánaiste and IDA about what happened, and why the Sudocream plant was lost to Bulgaria.
This closure is another blow for Baldoyle after the announcement of the planned closure of the Viatris Mylan plant just before Christmas costing over 400 jobs in the same area.
Deputy Ó Ríordáin said:
“The decision by Teva to close their Sudocream plant in Baldoyle is another huge blow to the area and the loss of yet more manufacturing jobs locally is deeply worrying and needs a serious response from the government.
“This is an iconic Irish brand since the 1930’s, born on the Old Cabra Road, and I am really disappointed at the decision to export the manufacturing to Bulgaria. The product has been made at its current site since 1984, and produced in Baldoyle since the 1940’s. This is a legacy which will now be sadly lost.
“I will be seeking answers from the Tánaiste about what efforts, if any were made to try to ensure that production stayed here. We shouldn’t be losing these types of jobs especially for such a well known home grown product.
“If the plant wasn’t able to expand as has been reported, why didn’t agencies like the IDA work to ensure an alternative site was located. Just before Christmas we also had the announcement that the Viatris plant would be closed over two years with the loss of over 400 jobs. Now we’ll have two empty factories.
“As I said on Viatris, the economic threats of Brexit and the pandemic is already leading to higher unemployment so this is a real blow for the area, and I am concerned about how difficult this will be for the local community to absorb. We also have a youth unemployment rate of over 60% so saving jobs and solutions to getting people back to work has to be top of the political agenda.
“I am calling on the Government and IDA to look at setting up a project team or taskforce to ensure the workers get all the supports they need including access to social welfare and education opportunities. Alongside there must be a plan for the site, that would look at making the facility available on the market to other potential manufacturers to preserve the skills locally, and maintain some employment there.
“As staff are let go they must also get all available supports from the Department of Social Protection, and ensure that Teva honours its obligations to them.”