Oracle, the US software firm which employs 975 people in Dublin, plans to recruit 250 staff and invest €130 million (£102 million) here in 2002, the company said yesterday. Mr Dermot O'Kelly, managing director of Oracle Ireland, said the firm currently had 60 open positions across its divisions and was aiming to recruit 250 new staff.
Last year Oracle predicted it would double its Irish workforce during 2001, but did not achieve this rapid growth rate. Mr O'Kelly said employment growth had not met earlier predictions due to factors in the economy.
The Dublin operation of Oracle - one of the largest hi-tech employers in the Republic - handles $2 billion (€2.4 billion) in sales to Europe and the Middle East.
Mr O'Kelly, speaking before the official opening of a new global development and IT services centre in Dublin, said Oracle had seen some dip in sales in Europe during the last quarter, but that profit was increasing. He said the company had achieved this by focusing on reducing costs.
Oracle's new building, opened by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, yesterday, is located at the East Point Business Park in Dublin, which is home to several Oracle sites.
The cost of the fit-out of the 5,250 sq metre building, including building works, furniture and data cabling, was almost €7 million.
Mr O'Kelly said Oracle's decision to centralise its technology and services teams within one building had freed up expansion space for other lines of business.
