Jobs Minister to visit Wyeth plant in Limerick after news of closure

ENTERPRISE Minister Simon Coveney is to visit the Wyeth plant in Askeaton in the next week after the firm outlined plans to cut almost 550 jobs.

In news which has rocked the local economy, its parent company Nestlé confirmed its decision to wind down production at the west Limerick site across the next two years.

The company announced on Wednesday this will place 542 positions at risk of redundancy, as it shifts production of its infant formula to China and Switzerland.

In the wake of this, the Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, and local TD Patrick O'Donovan made contact with Mr Coveney and An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

"This afternoon after hearing the news about Wyeth in Askeaton, I spoke to the Taoiseach and the Minister for Enterprise. Minister Coveney has assured me of his and his department's and agencies support for Askeaton and the wider Limerick area. I asked him to visit Askeaton to meet the management and employee representatives as soon as possible and he has confirmed he will do so next week," Mr O'Donovan stated in a post on Instagram.

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Speaking to Limerick Live, he added: "I think there is an element of shock in the area to be honest. This came out of the blue and there was no advance notice or feeling that anything was likely."

The company has confirmed it is planning to close its infant formula production facility in the first part of 2026, and its research centre during the opening months of 2025.

There are 491 production staff and 51 working in the research facility.

The company pledged to support staff fully through this process.

Siptu, which represents the majority of workers in the plant wants an urgent meeting with the firm's bosses over its proposals.

Major blow to Limerick as Nestlé confirms job losses at Wyeth plant

Union organiser Ciara McMahon-Flavin expressed deep concern over the situation, calling the announcement "horrendous".

She continued: "We are calling for an urgent meeting with management to ensure that a future is maintained for this longstanding and successful site."

Stressing the plant's significant role in the region's employment landscape, Siptu sector organiser Neil McGowan echoed Ms McMahon-Flavin's sentiment, saying: "The plant has provided good employment in the area for decades," he said. "It is vital that the decision to close is reversed, and as many jobs as possible can be maintained on the site.

The union has also confirmed it will seek immediate intervention from government to save the jobs.

Greg Ennis, Siptu divisional organiser, also announced plans to engage at an international level to address the situation as he attends a European Federation of Food, Agriculture, and Tourism executive committee meeting this Thursday in Brussels, the capital of Belgium.