Delphi, the Irish software services company, plans to double its workforce over the next three years, to 500 employees. The announcement came at the official opening of the firm's new software centre at its headquarters in Stillorgan, Co Dublin.

A £500,000 investment in the centre includes the purchase of extensive PC networks, client computer connections and the development of in-house training. Delphi provides outsourcing services to large corporate clients and manages remote programming services for large mainframe development.

According to managing director, Mr Martin Walsh, the increasing tendency by companies to outsource their software development, and the additional labour required to handle Year 2000 and EMU work are key reasons for the establishment of the new software centre.