The use of design in manufacturing should create some 1,000 jobs over the next three years, Mr Pat Maher, development director of Enterprise Ireland, said at the announcement of a new website yesterday.

www.D2ireland.ie was developed by Enterprise Ireland on behalf of the Irish design industry. The website offers a database of designers, case studies, design industry news and a noticeboard of events.

Mr Maher said about 2,500 designers are employed in the Republic, but that this would grow to 4,000 by 2003.