Job loss fears at Cemex

The housing slowdown and increased competitive pressures are likely to force the closure of the Cemex plant in Naas, Co Kildare, with the loss of up to 50 jobs.

The company last week entered a 30-day consultation period with staff at the facility, but warned the workforce that the plant is likely to close, and that some of them could face redundancy.

The plant manufactures roof tiles and pipes and has seen demand slow this year as the housing market cooled.

Cemex told workers that the downturn in house building combined with "competitive pressures" meant that its pipes and tile manufacturing operations were no longer viable.

It is understood that the ageing facility at Naas would require heavy investment to bring it up to the standard needed to compete in the current market, and the company believes that this is not sustainable.

About 50 people work at the facility. There is a possibility that some staff will be redeployed to other parts of the group, but job losses are thought to be inevitable there.

Cemex, which holds a majority stake in Dublin-listed building materials group Readymix, has had the business under review for some time.

It originally formed part of the Finlay Breton business, which the group sold to Co Tyrone-based operation Acheson & Glover in September for €49 million.