Two IDA-supported projects in the computer and pharmaceutical sectors are expected to create 108 jobs in Arklow, Co Wicklow.
The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney, announcing the projects, said a total investment of over £20 million was involved for the town which suffered from the closure of the Noritake-owned Arklow Pottery plant last year with the loss of 140 jobs. ASI Technologies is to establish a software development centre in the new IDA business park and will employ 75 people over five years in an investment worth over £1 million. Ms Harney said ASI was the first major international services company to locate in the new Arklow Business and Technology park. "It will open up significant quality employment opportunities for highly skilled software people," she said. The second project is a £19 million investment by Iropharm into its existing fine chemicals facility, leading to the creation of 33 new jobs over the next three years.
Iropharm, a subsidiary of the US company, AlliedSignal since last year, employs 64 people in the manufacture of bulk pharmaceutical products, mainly anti-depressants, anti-histamines and heart drugs, for pharmaceutical companies. It is the second major jobs announcement by AlliedSignal in recent days following its decision to expand its aerospace operations in Waterford last week. An IDA spokesman said the new 60-acre business park, located off the Arklow bypass, would be flagged by companies for its attraction for "reverse commuters" - people living in the city who can drive in light traffic to a workplace in pleasant surroundings.
ASI will provide software engineering services for the medical and health care industries. These will be in two main categories - software development incorporating software validation and verification, and verification and regulatory controls for compliance with the US Food & Drug Administration and the European Medical Evaluations Agency. ASI is a subsidiary of Asystem Services International, a joint venture company owned by the US company, Fluor Daniel Corporation, and Asystem SA of France.
Ms Harney said that since the closure of the Noritake plant last April, over 500 jobs in six projects had been announced for the Arklow area.
