The employment situation in Arklow, County Wicklow, has received another major setback with the news that local tile manufacturer VitrA Tiles is to cease production for a time in the new year.

With the lay-offs set to last for at least two months, the decision comes in response to the low sterling-Euro exchange rate which has resulted in a build up of stock.

The closure is reported to have been cited as a way of reducing stock.

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In the region of 100 staff members are currently employed at VitrA Tiles with 50 of these expected to be facing temporary lay-offs.

However, company director Robert Hickson said this week that this is purely a temporary measure and that he is confident the plant will re-open as promised.

Despite the fact that staff are told they will be reinstated in the coming months they are now left with the pressure of being short on funds over Christmas.

A spokesperson for the local Social Welfare office told the Wicklow People that although every effort is made to deal with applications quickly it can take a number of weeks for new applications to be processed.

(PR/KMcA)