SAP to expand Irish workforce by 250 in €110m IDA-backed investment

AN ANNOUNCEMENT by German software firm SAP that it is to expand its Irish operations with the creation of 250 jobs in Dublin and Galway was just one of a number of jobs announcements yesterday.

SAP, which already employs 1,200 staff at its three office locations in Ireland, is investing €110 million in two IDA-backed projects.

The multinational plans to create 150 positions within its sales and services division at Citywest in Dublin over the next three years.

A further 100 jobs will also be created at the company’s newly established cloud computing and support centre in Galway.

SAP, which is now the largest supplier of business software in Europe and the third largest in the world, provides software and operating systems to a number of leading Irish companies, such as Allied Irish Banks, Ryanair, Elan, Glanbia and CIÉ.

Making the announcement at the SAP offices in Citywest, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the investment contributed to Ireland’s growing reputation as a global hub for the digital industry.

The company’s “decision to further expand its Irish operations demonstrates the real value of an economically stable business environment and Ireland’s position in Europe when it comes to attracting the overseas operations of major technology companies like SAP”, he said.

“Of particular significance is that jobs are being created in cloud computing by a world leader in the field.”

SAP managing director Liam Ryan said the announcement “is all about gearing SAP up for the company’s next wave of technology innovation to meet business needs in the areas of cloud computing, mobile applications and high-performing database technology” .

The company, which is headquartered in Walldorf, Germany, said it would be seeking to fill positions with a variety of skill sets, ranging from computer science, engineering, physics and maths to languages, business and sales.

Elsewhere a casino and private members’ club is to open in Swords, north Dublin, creating 50 jobs. KaiRo International plans to increase the workforce to 70 over the next six months with a training centre set up for croupiers.

Irish energy management equipment manufacturer Cylon said yesterday it was investing €11 million in an expansion that would create 50 jobs over the next four years.

A new division of the business will provide energy management services, rather than equipment, to its customers.

A proposed €150 million green energy project in Mayo could create up to 1,000 jobs in the long term, one of its backers said yesterday.

Mayo Renewable Power is planning to build a wood-burning electricity generator on the site of the old Asahi plant in Killala, Co Mayo. Irish-American businessman Gerald C Crotty, chief executive of Mayo Renewable Power and president of venture capital firm Weichert Enterprise, which is backing the project, said it would require an investment of €150 million to develop.

Speaking at the Ireland US Council’s spring corporate lunch in Dublin, Mr Crotty estimated that its construction would create around 250 jobs. Its operation would require “a more modest number” he added.

However, he said that if the company could source its fuel locally rather than importing it, this could create between 500 and 1,000 jobs. This would require farmers in the region to grow bio-mass crops; that is, wood that is grown quickly and cheaply, and which is not suitable for purposes such as construction.

The project could bring between €20 million and €30 million a year into Mayo, Mr Crotty predicted.