Central Bank bosses want to cease printing Euro banknotes

The move - which sources said would result in "significant cost savings" - would  impact on 45 jobs at the bank's south Dublin mint.

Production of coins would continue at the facility in Sandyford.

Savings would be made in annual production costs as well as in avoiding investment costs that would be incurred it banknotes continue to be printed here.

Sources said it is not a reflection of the work carried out by staff at the facility, rather developments in the cost of printing banknotes across Eurozone countries.

The savings from outsourcing would be returned to the exchequer.

The Central Bank last night confirmed that the move is being considered, but did not provide a figure for savings that would be made.

It said it does not intend to seek compulsory redundancies but did not say how many voluntary redundancies would be sought.

The management proposal comes after a review of its strategy for banknote production.

The purpose of the review was to determine how the Central Bank meets its Eurosystem obligations for its annual Euro banknote production.

In a statement last night a Central Bank spokesperson said the review is complete but no decision has yet been taken by the Central Bank Commission.

The matter is scheduled to come before the Commission at the end of March.

A statement said: "The proposal from management involves sourcing the banknotes from within the Eurozone, and ceasing the printing of banknotes at the Central Bank’s Currency Centre.

"This proposal is in line with the approach taken in many other national central banks in the Eurozone."

It added: "This proposed change will have no impact on the supply of banknotes in Ireland, the majority of which are produced elsewhere."

And it said: "All other currency related operation at Sandyford Currency Centre would continue as normal."

The Central Bank confirmed that if the decision is taken to cease printing, 45 of the mint's 170 staff will be impacted.

The statement added: "The staff and their representatives are fully aware of the proposal."

It said that the bank "does not intend to seek compulsory redundancies" and is committed to redeployment and retraining opportunities for impacted staff.

It said that a voluntary severance package will also be made available to staff.

The statement said: "If a decision is taken to cease printing, the Central Bank is committed to engagement with staff representative bodies through the normal industrial relations channels on the implications for impacted staff.”