Stream promises 300 new jobs

SOME 200 jobs will be created at a new technology centre in Dublin, a leading US software services company announced yesterday. Stream International, a leading manufacturer and supplier of software and corporate technology services, also said it would hire an extra 100 workers at it existing base in Kildare. The company currently employs more than 1,000 people in Dublin, Kildare and Derry.

The project, which is backed by IDA Ireland, will cost more than £10 million. The 300 new posts are to be filled by 1998.

Meanwhile, further good news on the jobs front has come from a take over by Japanese company Namco of the former Atari plant in Tipperary, which will secure the 50 existing jobs and possibly lead to further expansion. The company plans to manufacture computer games for the European market.

However questions are being raised about an announcement last year by US company American Power Conversions that it would create 1,000 new jobs in Gillogue, Co Clare, Drogheda, Co Louth and Castlebar, Co Mayo. Difficulties have emerged over the condition of the Gillogue plant. The company is expected to decide by the end of November on the future of its proposed £40 million investment.

Making the Stream announcement at the company's plant in Coolock yesterday, Mr Paul Kavanagh, president of its operations for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, said the new centre would use state of the art technology to provide electronic software manufacturing, print on demand, distribution and licence management services.

The European technology centre will be able to supply its customers through whatever medium they require customised electronic print, CD, DVD, on line information and electronic commerce, Mr Kavanagh said.

Stream International was formed in 1995, through the merger of Corporate Software Inc and RR Donnelly's Global Software Services Business Unit. It has annual sales of $1.6 billion (£1 billion) with more than 7,000 employees in 19 countries. The company is also one of the largest suppliers of telephone based technical support, with some 1,500 specialists handling 12 million calls a year.