AN ANNOUNCEMENT of a £50 million 400-job project in the Technology Park at Plassey, Co Limerick, is expected today.

The Eastman-Kodak plant, which will manufacture photographic and film-related products, was won for Ireland by the IDA against stiff competition from its British counterparts.

Difficult negotiations lasted for several weeks before the deal was agreed. Recruitment is expected to begin early in the new year.

The new plant will produce capital-intensive advanced photo system technology, producing a new generation of films and cameras.

The new technology will allow images be more easily read and reproduced by compact discs. Massive sales of the new technology are being expected by Eastman Kodak.

The company is one of the biggest multinationals in the photography industry and has developed into a market leader in new technology imagery.

In February the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Mr Bruton, announced a 250-job project by Eastman-Kodak in Youghal, Co Cork.

That plant is to produce CDRoms suitable for photographs, document images and video motion.