Information technology company ICL and electronics firm Siemens are to create 410 new jobs in Dundalk, Dublin and Cork.

ICL's new software development centre in Dundalk will recruit an additional 160 employees while 100 more will be needed for an expansion of its Dublin headquarters. Siemens is planning to employ 150 staff at a new call centre in Cork.

In the meantime, Hewlett-Packard Ireland is planning to diversify its range of services here but says its plan to employ 3,000 people within two years is unlikely to be met. It currently employs 1,500.