THIRTY-FIVE JOBS are to be created over the next three years at Shabra Recycling in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, following the opening of a new €3.5 million plastic bottle plant. The new plant, which was part-funded by Enterprise Ireland, will significantly enhance capacity at Shabra’s seven-acre facility in Bree Industrial Park.

The new jobs will be in the areas of general operations, research and development, manufacturing supervision and administration.

Shabra collects, reprocesses and recycles approximately 10,000 tonnes of waste plastic bottles and film each year.

The new plant will significantly increase the company’s export sales, which currently represents 55 per cent of the overall business.

Opening the plant, Minister for Enterprise Batt O’Keeffe said the company generated a significant economic dividend for the Border region in direct and spin-off jobs and investments.

Shabra was founded in 1986 by Rita Shah and Oliver Brady. It currently employs 49 people.

Separately, Deloitte Ireland is to fill 30 technology consulting positions immediately and plans to recruit at least 150 graduates for its audit, tax, consulting and corporate finance divisions next year.

Deloitte said most of the new jobs are in technology consulting, with some advisory roles available in the firm’s audit, consulting and enterprise risk departments.

Managing partner Pat Cullen said the firm was delighted to be in a position to offer the jobs.

“In addition, we are very committed to our graduate recruitment programme and recognise its importance to our own future success and to the Irish economy.”

Graduate places will be available in Dublin, Cork and Limerick.

The news came on the same day that pharmaceutical giant Schering-Plough is to cut its workforce at its plant in Brinny, west Cork, by 160 people as part of cost-cutting plans.