Insurance and risk specialist Marsh Ireland plans to create 75 financial services jobs in the west of Ireland.

The company said yesterday that it had opened a new telephone sales and claims administration centre at the Údarás na Gaeltachta business park in Spiddal, Co Galway.

It recently hired 50 people to work in the 11,000 sq ft facility.

A Marsh Ireland statement said yesterday that it would ultimately employ 75 people at the site.

The majority will be recruited from the west Galway Gaeltacht region itself.

They will provide services for Marsh Ireland's motor, household and travel insurance schemes. Staff at the centre will also process claims against the company's various affinity schemes.

Among other things, Marsh is the broker for mobile phone insurance plans offered to contract customers by the Republic's networks. Claims against these policies will be processed in Spiddal.

The facility is the first from the services sector to open in an Údarás na Gaeltachta site.

The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Ó Cuív, yesterday welcomed the move, saying it was important that high-quality employment was offered in the region.

Údarás chief executive Mr Ruán Ó Bric hoped Marsh Ireland was "blazing a trail" for the authority.

Marsh Ireland chief executive Mr Joe Grogan pointed out that the company employed 500 people in eight offices around the State.

The company is the Irish subsidiary of Marsh McLennan, which specialises in insurance broking, risk management and business continuity (that is providing back-up for businesses in crises situations).

Last year, tourism development agency Fáilte Ireland hired it to gather information on the industry's recent claims and premiums experience.