Roche Ireland has today (Thursday) told staff at its Clarecastle facility of its intention to exit the site. The Clarecastle facility currently employs around 240 people.
MD of Roche Ireland said it was a difficult day for everyone on site and pledged that the company would do all it could to support staff. "Clarecastle has been a significant and successful manufacturing site since 1974 and the proposal for Roche to exit the site is in no way a reflection on the performance of the people or the site,” Gerry Cahill said. “We will do our utmost to support our colleagues during this transition.”
Roche says it's informed the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the IDA of the proposal to exit Clarecastle. The company also says it's committed to working with the Minister and the IDA to seek a buyer for the site.
In a statement, Roche added that it would now enter into formal consultation with staff and their representatives. The company is committed to fully engaging with all employees and will provide all the necessary and appropriate support.
The company says its "planned exit" from Clarecastle results from a review of Roche’s worldwide manufacturing network for small molecules that highlighted current underutilisation as a result of the company’s evolving portfolio. A new generation of specialised medicines based on small molecules requires novel manufacturing technologies and will be produced in lower volumes than traditional medicines. As a result, Roche plans to exit four manufacturing sites in Florence, South Carolina; Leganes, Spain; Segrate, Italy; and the Clarecastle site. The company says that in order to minimise job reductions, it's looking into "divestment opportunities" for these facilities.
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