Cork to get 645 new jobs over next four years

THE ANNOUNCEMENT of 645 new jobs for Cork over the next four years represents "a huge vote of confidence" in the southern region, according to the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan.

The Tánaiste pointed out that the major new investments being made by Quinn Insurance and hi-tech company Option Wireless come on the back of 300 jobs being announced in Galway and Wexford over the past few days.

Quinn Insurance is to create 500 new jobs at its new €25 million facility at the Eastgate Business Park in Little Island over the next four years. The company will create 100 jobs immediately, with the others coming on stream by 2012.

Speaking at the opening, the Tánaiste said: "This substantial investment in Cork and the associated jobs being created over the next four years is a huge vote of confidence for the whole region."

Ms Coughlan congratulated Quinn Insurance on their continued success and for their continued investment in Ireland in difficult economic times.

Colin Morgan, chief executive of Quinn Insurance, said the company remained very optimistic about the opportunities for the business to continue to grow, both in Ireland and the UK.

"Times are tough for everybody in business at the moment, but we need to look forward to the future and we are optimistic about our plans for continued growth despite the current difficulties across the world."

Mr Morgan said that recruitment had already started at the Little Island facility, and he hoped it would continue steadily over the next four years.

The new jobs will be across a range of disciplines, including insurance sales and underwriting, claims management and customer service.

Quinn Insurance currently employs almost 3,000 people, with 300 new positions created in the past year.

It now boasts 1.25 million customers in Ireland and the UK across its general and health insurance business.

The Minister also announced 145 new IDA-supported production jobs at Option Wireless in Cork yesterday, to be created over the next three years.

Located at Kilbarry Industrial Estate, the company currently employs 300 people at its manufacturing and services facility, and the new staff will undertake leading-edge process-development activities.

Option Wireless designs, develops and manufactures devices that provide high-quality wireless access to the internet.

The company anticipates further substantial volume growth following the doubling of output between 2005 and 2007.