BREAKING: Jobs in Tullamore to be lost as Argos set to close all stores in Ireland

Argos is to close all its outlets in Ireland with the loss of almost 600 jobs.

There are over 30 Argos stores in Ireland including in Tullamore.

The company said itarrived at the decision to leave Ireland following a long period of careful consideration and a thorough review of its business and operations in the country. It concluded the investment required to develop and modernise the Irish part of its business was not viable and that the money would be better invested in other parts of its business.  

Argos operates a bespoke model in the Republic of Ireland that is significantly different to its wider UK operation and today’s announcement only relates to Argos stores in the Republic of Ireland.

There will be no change to the retailer’s operations in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. 

The company said that everyone at Argos recognises that today’s news will be unsettling for all its colleagues, some of whom have served Argos customers in Ireland for many years, and disappointing for its loyal customers.

Argos says it is committed to doing everything it can to support its people and is talking to 580 staff members, across 34 stores in the Republic of Ireland about their options. 

Argos will propose an enhanced redundancy package that goes well beyond its statutory obligations. The small number of colleagues not eligible for redundancy under Irish Law are expected to receive a one-off goodwill payment. To further support colleagues, Argos has also committed to a programme of wider support over the coming months.

Andy McClelland, Argos Ireland Operations Manager, said: “We understand this is difficult news for our customers and colleagues. As with any major change to our business, we have not made this decision lightly and we are doing everything we can to support those impacted. On behalf of everyone at Argos I would like to thank our colleagues, customers, suppliers and partners for their support to our business.” 

Argos stores will remain open to customers in the Republic of Ireland until June 24. Following today’s announcement, Argos will begin the process of gradually winding down its Irish business. As part of this, customers in Ireland will no longer be able to pay for orders via the Argos website or place orders via its home delivery service after March 22. Orders placed up to this date will continue to be fulfilled and customers will still be able to reserve products online and pay for them in store until the point of business closure.

Argos is communicating its overall decision to colleagues, customers, landlords, suppliers and other stakeholders today in order to give them as much time as possible to plan accordingly.

The Mandate Trade Union has this morning expressed its disappointment at Argos’s decision to close all of its outlets in Ireland.

Mandate official, Michael Meegan, said that the union will be engaging intensively with the company to get the best possible deal for the workers who are being made redundant.

“Today is a difficult one for Argos’s staff here in Ireland as they get the news that the company will be closing down here. Because Argos is shutting down its complete operation in Ireland this amounts to a collective redundancy which requires a 30-day consultation period and we know the company intends to honour that obligation to engage," he said. 

"We will be using this period to negotiate the best possible terms for those who are losing their jobs and we are expecting a constructive response from the company,” Michael Meegan concluded.