US computer manufacturer Dell is considering setting up a technology campus in Dublin which could result in the amalgamation of two existing Dell sites at Bray and Cherrywood.
Mr Michael Dell, founder and chairman of Dell, said yesterday the firm was looking at having a larger campus to support the firm's existing growth in the European region. This option was being considered as a means to have all its people working at the same site in the Dublin area, he added.
Dell's sites in Bray and Cherrywood employ about 1,200 people, who provide sales and support services to British and Irish customers. Dell also has an European manufacturing plant in Raheen, Co Limerick, which employs a further 3,000 people.
A decision by Dell to set up a single technology campus in Dublin for all its staff would follow similar initiatives from competitors such as IBM and Hewlett-Packard. However, no decision has been made by the firm yet on a site for the technology campus.
On a visit to a school in Croom, Co Limerick, yesterday Mr Dell also dismissed fears about the future of either Dell's manufacturing or services centres in light of rising competition from China.
"We have a facility in China but this doesn't build computers for either the US or Europe. Dell is growing 30 per cent in Europe and in our business you have to deliver products very quickly to customers.
"From today's tour of the Dell facility in Limerick I can see that there is still a tremendous amount of productivity that can be achieved here, he added.
But Mr Dell, who comes from Texas - the same state as President Bush - warned that a Democratic victory in the US election in November could have a negative impact on the Irish and US economies and Dell.
"Any politician who talks about protectionism is bad for Ireland. Protectionism is not good for Ireland, global trade or the US. That is not the way forward," he said.
Dell also said it plans to set up a new services operation in Limerick to provide disaster recovery and advanced support services to customers throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The Enterprise Command Centre will open in November and is modelled on similar centres already established in the US and Asia.
Dell, which set up its first Irish operation in 1990, has quickly grown to become one of the State's biggest technology firms, responsible for €7 billion exports in 2002.
Mr Dell said the firm would generate €10 billion revenue in Europe from its Irish operations this year. He said the firm was on a strong growth path and was focused on the server, storage and printer market.
Computer sales in Ireland are also experiencing strong growth and were up 25 per cent in the end quarter of the year compared to last year due to strong demand from businesses, according to the company- which has about 38 per cent market share in the Republic.
