Tayto to create 78 jobs in Meath

Meath got a jobs boost today as Largo Foods and Tayto Park said it would add 78 staff to its workforce.

The new jobs, which were announced by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny at Tayto Park in Ashbourne this morning, bring the total number of staff at the business to 798.

Largo Foods was established in 1983 by Ray Coyle, with Tayto Park opening in 2010. The company is set to invest €2.1 million this year in the 55-acre park, which includes animal areas, playgrounds, restaurants and shops. Its production facility is less than 100 metres from the park.

Mr Kenny welcomed the new jobs, describing the Tayto brand as "an Irish food icon".

"Ireland's food industry is a vital part of our domestic economy and is central to our export orientated recovery," he said. "In addition I'm delighted that Tayto Park continues to attract in more visitors especially in this year of The Gathering."

Mr Coyle described today's announcement as a positive news story. "We see this as an investment, not only in this great Irish family attraction, but also in the people who work here," he said.

Fine Gael Meath East TD Regina Doherty described the news of the jobs as a “great boost” to the local community. “This is a perfect example of how local, indigenous enterprises can expand and create jobs,” she said. “Our economy is going through a transition; from the old failed model based on banking and construction, to a new sustainable economy based on enterprise and innovation. Tayto is a company that is leading the way in two of the sectors which the Government has identified as having major growth potential; tourism and food production.”

Largo Foods also has production facilities in Gweedore, Co Donegal and in Yorkshire in the UK. It has invested almost €3.4 million in its facilities in 2012, with €3.2 million planned for 2013.

About 30 per cent of the company's annual €100 million turnover comes from export sales.

Elsewhere, car dealer Windsor Motors said it has created 10 jobs with the opening of a new Kia garage in in Liffey Valley, Dublin.

The company, which has 13 dealerships employing more than 300 people around the country, said the number of employees in the Kia garage was expected to increase over the next 12 months.