The Tanaiste, Mary Coughlan, has said she is deeply disappointed by Dell's decision to shed 1,900 jobs in Limerick and move its Raheen manufacturing base to Poland.

In a statement this morning, Ms Coughlan said the relevant state agencies would immediately engage with the company to provide every possible assistance to the workers being made redundant.

She also said the Government and IDA Ireland would continue to engage with Dell with a view to attracting other investments from the company.

Local Labour Party TD Jan O'Sullivan, meanwhile, says the news is a devastating blow for Limerick, which had hoped the job cuts wouldn't be so severe.

She says there is now major worry for the future of thousands more ancillary jobs that were dependent on business from Dell.