Taoiseach asked to help save jobs as 450 laid off

Date Published: 12-May-2011

BY ENDA CUNNINGHAM

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been asked to intervene in a payments row which saw a Galway building firm temporarily lay off more than 450 people this week.

Cordil Construction says it is owed “substantial monies” for Department of Education and HSE building projects, and directors have made phone calls to ministers in recent days in a desperate bid to save the company.

Fine Gael Deputy Brian Walsh said he spoke to the Taoiseach – who was already aware of the issue – on Wednesday night, and will also be making representations to the Ministers for Education and Health.

Cordil has a two-week ‘window’ to secure bank funding and save the jobs. It’s understood Cordil’s cashflow has been put under severe strain because of strict conditions imposed by Government contracts.

The company – well-known as a school and homebuilder – told its 51 permanent staff and more than 400 subcontractors on Wednesday it was closing down sites for a fortnight while it attempts to secure a temporary overdraft from its bankers.

The company is currently working on 15 projects around the country worth a total of €27m – including seven major Government schemes.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.