RUBBERMAID, a US manufacturer of consumer and commercial products, is to set up its back office administration centre in Dublin which is expected to employ 50 people within four years.

Rubbermaid Services will provide the transaction processing and financial services for all of the group's European operations. The US group, which manufactures over 5,000 products which are sold in over 100 countries, already has a manufacturing operation in Ireland.

It bought The Little Tikes Company in the Clonshaugh Industrial Estate in Coolock in Dublin in 1987 to make durable toys for preschool children and employs 130 people full time and up to 100 temporary workers.

The positive experience Rubbermaid has had with The Little Tikes operation and the availability of workers with appropriate language skills were some of Ireland's attractions, the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Mr Bruton, said.