Tara Mines,the county’s largest employer is to temporarily lay off its entire staff of 650 workers as the p;ant has been placed under a care and maintenance regime.

A statement from Bolinden the company who own the mines reads, “Due to a combination of factors, the Tara mine in Ireland will be placed under care and maintenance. The decision means that production and exploration ceases temporarily at the mine.

“The Tara zinc mine in Ireland is a high-cost mine with approximately 650 employees. Boliden is working actively to extend the life of the mine in parallel with ensuring its competitiveness. The business is currently cash flow negative, due to a combination of factors including operational challenges, a decline in the price of zinc, high energy prices and general cost inflation. Tara will therefore be placed under care and maintenance until further notice.

“The decision means that production at the mine ceases and that the workforce is temporarily laid off until conditions of the operation improve.”

Aontú leader, and Meath West TD, Peadar Toíbin has told Meath Live that he has already contacted Simon Coveney the Minister for Trade,Enterprise and Employment over the matter.

He said, ‘I messaged him as soon as I heard and I implored him to prioritise a meeting with Bolinden tomorrow to resolve this.

‘The main cause of this is I feel the rise in the price of electricity, Tara is one of the biggest users of electricity in Ireland. Look thankfully it appears to be a temporary measure but the Minister needs to act before jobs are list.’