The biggest employer in the midlands will decide in the next few weeks whether to rebuild a major part of their plant, which was destroyed in a fire last year.
The canning section of C&D Pet Foods - owned by Philip Reynolds, son of former taoiseach Albert Reynolds - was destroyed in a fire at the plant in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, 12 months ago yesterday.
A total of 287 jobs jobs were lost in the fire and the owners have since received what is believed to be compensation of more than €20 million.
A total of 235 people are still employed at the plant, but Mr Reynolds could not say yesterday if the cannery would be rebuilt and the lost jobs restored.
"I can't answer about the cannery, but I am deep in thought at the moment. We have a project team working on exactly the plans for this site and the business generally and hopefully these will be signed off in the next number of weeks," Mr Reynolds said from the plant.
Mr Reynolds added that canning pet food remained a viable business proposition, which has given rise to hopes that he will decide to rebuild the cannery rather than seek to have canning carried out abroad.
Siptu official Séamus McNamee said he was hopeful that the Reynolds family would take a decision to rebuild, which would pave the way for the 287 jobs to come back on stream.
"I would hope that the Reynolds family, who have a long history of service in this area, would take that decision in the next few weeks.
"It would be a great boost, because Longford is not a hot spot for employment. I am hopeful," said Mr McNamee.
"Some of those who lost their jobs last year have not found alternative employment. People who are younger and more mobile have found jobs in various places, but many of the older staff are still out of work."