ALMOST 1,250 jobs will be created in 17 IDA backed projects, it was announced yesterday. Around half of the jobs, which entail a £36 million investment, will be located in Dublin.
The biggest single project is an expansion by Berlitz in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, where 240 jobs are being created in the software sector. Berlitz is doubling its multimedia/software engineering and translation operations in Blackrock and Dun Laoghaire. Over 500 will be employed in Ireland within two years.
The Blackrock project, announced in January 1996, intended to create 150 new jobs within three years. However, the entry of Bertliz into the market for localised multimedia and Internet content created strong growth for the firm. All the new jobs were filled within 12 months - almost two years ahead of target.
In Limerick the Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation is to invest £20 million, with IDA support, to manufacture recordable compact discs. The new operation, to be known as MC Infonics Ireland Ltd, will create 140 new jobs over the next three years, many of which will be for technicians and engineers.
Mitsubishi bought Verbatim Corporation, a leading US media company with a subsidiary in Raheen, Co Limerick, which produces floppy discs. The new operation will be located in the Verbatim factory.
CSK Software is expanding its software development operation in Dublin which will produce an additional 94 jobs. It will bring total employment in the company to 180 by the end of next year. The company provides solutions to the global trading, banking risk management and Internet sectors.
Allergan, which is one of the world's largest manufacturers of contact lens care products and opthalmic drug and surgical products, is to establish a European "shared service facility" in Dublin. It will take over the clerical support functions of Allergan Europe and will create 90 jobs over two years.
The project will also feature a call centre which will be linked directly to Allergan's sales forces in Europe, providing support services to its European customers.
The Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Mr Bruton, said the projects would provide a variety of job opportunities for a wide mix of skilled people.
"The focus in the Dublin projects, with 620 new jobs, is primarily on people based value added services, such as software, back office and customer support services," he said.
He added the other projects encompass engineering and electronics as well as software.
