Argos will stop taking orders for home deliveries from later this month ahead of the company’s planned exit from the Irish market in June.

The UK company confirmed in January that it is closing all 34 stores in the Republic by June 24, which will see 580 jobs lost. 

Argos customers can place orders for home delivery up until March 22, but after this date the service “will no longer be available”.

"This means that larger items which are currently only available through our home delivery service, such as sofas, beds and large kitchen appliances will no longer be sold by Argos in the Republic of Ireland,” a spokesperson for Argos said.

“We will honour all home delivery orders placed before March 22.

“After this date you can still order small items via our Click and Collect service until stores close on 24 June 2023.”

It comes as customers in Ireland have not been able to pay for orders via the Argos website since the closures were announced in January.

Argos opened its first outlet in the Republic in 1996 and the planned closure will see more than 400 full-time staff lose their jobs, with the first stores believed to be closing shortly.

Accounts released in recent months had the company’s full-time Irish employee count at 448, while a number of part-time employees will also lose their jobs.

It’s understood that a small number of stores whose lease is up early this year will close, with the rest of the outlets closing before the end of June.

"Argos will propose an enhanced redundancy package that goes well beyond its statutory obligations. The small number of colleagues not eligible for redundancy under Irish Law are expected to receive a one-off goodwill payment. To further support colleagues, Argos has also committed to a programme of wider support over the coming months,” the company said in a statement.

Andy McClelland, Argos Ireland Operations Manager, said: “We understand this is difficult news for our customers and colleagues. As with any major change to our business, we have not made this decision lightly and we are doing everything we can to support those impacted. On behalf of everyone at Argos I would like to thank our colleagues, customers, suppliers and partners for their support to our business.”

Accounts for 2022 show the Irish arm of the retailer lost €13m last year, as revenue tumbled from €170m to €134m between March 2021 and March 2022.

Closure of three stores last year cost the retailer an additional €2m.