Business software maker Sage is to invest approximately €3 million establishing an international localisation centre and European data centre in Dublin.

The investment, which is supported by IDA Ireland, will create 40 new jobs.

Recruitment has already begun for the localisation centre, which is to be established as part of Sage's existing research and development facility in Ballsbridge, which employs 40.

It will be responsible for producing local language versions of Sage's customer relationship management (CRM) products initially supporting German, French and Spanish versions, with a Dutch version to be launched later in the year.

Sage's general manager of global CRM, Dave Batt, said that Sage was now looking to expand its position in CRM by creating a single manufacturing operation for its different products.

"Some companies solve that problem with cheap labour, but we saw we needed a strong labour force and knowledge base," said Mr Batt.