Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke has said that the Government is 'working hard' to secure a buyer for the Leprino cheese factory in Portlaoise, following the August announcement of their impending closure next year.

The Leprino pizza mozzarella plant in Laois County Council's J17 National Enterprise Park is being closed down on a phased basis, to fully shut by mid 2026. Staff are being paid bonuses to stay on until it finally shuts down.

During oral questions in the Dáil on November 13, Laois Fine Gael TD Willie Aird questioned the Minister on the timeline for 'identification and servicing' the next generation of sites for future foreign and direct investment, and what counties they will be located in.

Pictured: Leprino cheese factory, Portlaoise. Photo: Google Maps

The Deputy called for urgent action to safeguard jobs and attract new investment to the state-of-the-art Leprino factory.

“This facility represents a huge investment and offers opportunities for many different workforce skills. We need coordinated efforts to ensure it remains operational and continues to provide employment for the local community,” Deputy Aird said.

Minister Peter Burke responded that the Government is working 'in close cooperation' with Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, and is 'actively working to find a new investor for the site'.

“We are working so hard with Enterprise Ireland and the IDA, looking at a prospectus for a site, because it is a highly valued building,” the Minister said.

“We are working really hard to get another buyer and a company into it because it provides a unique location. It has the infrastructure, the connectivity and the talent, and I know it is important to those 132 families who rely on those jobs in Leprino that we get a future for the site.

“We will work closely with the Deputy…to ensure that we get more services and high-value jobs and, critically, look out for the futures of those 132 families who are really dependent on the Government getting a response here,” the Minister said.

The Minister emphasised that all options are being explored to ensure continuity of operations and the creation of high-value jobs. He highlighted the importance of reducing lead times and providing certainty for potential investors.

Deputy Aird went on to highlight the strategic advantages of County Laois for future investment, including its strong transport links, skilled workforce, and growing potential in manufacturing, logistics, technology, and green energy.

He urged continued engagement between the Department, Laois County Council, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, and the Local Enterprise Office to secure Laois as a priority location for next-generation foreign direct investment (FDI) sites.

“The Government’s response on Leprino demonstrates a serious commitment to safeguarding local jobs,” Deputy Aird said.

“We now need sustained effort to ensure the site remains operational and that Laois is fully prepared to attract the next wave of high-value investment," he finished.

The Portlaoise development, which was announced in July 2018, was the first big client to set up in the Laois County Council driven National Enterprise Park in Portlaoise. 

It is located near the M7 Togher interchange on a new access road built by the Council that also links to the town's Clonminham Industrial Estate.

Glanbia previously said 100 people work at the plant and has a production capacity of 45,000 tonnes of mozzarella cheese per annum. The 40,000-metric ton facility requires significant amounts of dairy ingredients - the equivalent of 400 million litres of milk a year to operate. In 2023, Glanbia sold full ownership of the factory to Leprino for €200 million. 

The two firms partnered almost 50:50 in the Portlaoise plant which went into operation in April 2021 making pizza mozzarella cheese for the European market.

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