Staff at Cara Partners in Cork are waiting to hear how many of the 150 jobs at the plant are to go. Management would neither confirm nor deny yesterday that layoffs at the plant were imminent.

It is understood that Deloitte and Touche has been called in as consultant, by the company, which has been operating at Little Island in Cork since 1980, to produce a rationalisation plan for the operation. Staff are being kept informed by management and SIPTU will meet company officials today. Cara Partners produce extracts from the leaves of the maidenhair plant (Gingko Biloba), which are used in the preparation of treatments for memory enhancement and blood disorders.

While the 150-strong workforce has been made aware that the rationalisation plan is being prepared, workers have not been told how many jobs are to go or who will be affected.

Confirming that Deloitte & Touche had been called in, Cara's managing director, Mr Michael Granville told The Irish Times yesterday it was too early to say "what the final numbers will be".

The company's main markets are in France and Germany but it has also a strong presence elsewhere. Cara Partners is privately owned by the French group Beaufour-Ipsen and the German company, Schwabe.