LUCENT Technologies, the telecommunications group which was spun off from AT&T last year, is planning to recruit a further 30 engineers for its development laboratory in Bray, Co Wicklow.
The recruitment is part of Lucent's plans to produce software for the management of GSM mobile phone networks.
Lucent managing director Mr Joe Lyons said that the recruitment of a further 30 engineers would increase employment at Lucent's Irish operations to 400. Three years ago the company employed fewer than 250 people in Ireland.
Mr Lyons said that forecasts for mobile phone usage worldwide have recently been revised and users are now expected to treble by 2001.
"Lucent is confident of capturing a strong position in this fast growing global market," he added.
