It has been announced today that up to 1,300 jobs are to be created in west and south by three multinational companies.
This morning, US-based company Thomson Netg announced 360 jobs for Limerick in a €12 million expansion of its e-learning product development and innovation centre in Limerick.
The company employs 300 people at its IDA-backed facility in the National Technology Park set up in 1998.
Thomson Netg has also agreed with the IDA to develop a satellite operation in Birr, Co Offaly, with the creation of 80 jobs. The details of this agreement have yet to be finalised, the IDA said.
In Galway, the IDA said up to 600 jobs will be created over the next five years as part of an expansion by British-based financial services company Churchill Insurance.
The company plans to set up a customer-interaction centre close to its premises at Ballybrit Business Park. This is to allow the company develop its general insurance business in the British market and future needs, the IDA said.
This afternoon's announcement follows confirmation earlier today that pharmaceutical company Élan will create up to 300 jobs in Cork at a new bio-pharmaceutical plant.
Elan said it has bought the former General Semi-conductor Ireland plant in Macroom, which closed last year with the loss of 670 jobs. Élan will covert the 120,000 sq ft factory on the 16-acre site as part of a €66 million investment (US$60 million) investment.
The new plant is in addition to the €278 million (US$250 million) the company is currently investing into its Athlone operation, a spokesman said.
The Cork jobs, to be created over the next five years, will mainly be graduate and post-graduate high-tech jobs along with support jobs. The plant will be manufacture of Antegren, the company’s treatment for multiple sclerosis and Crohn’s disease.
The company will not be seeking any grants from the IDA, nor has it sought financial grants in the past, the spokesman said.