Martin announces 450 new jobs in boost for beleaguered north west

THREE separate job initiatives are to result in the creation of 453 jobs in Sligo, Letterkenny and Arklow.

However, 93 jobs are to go at the Veha radiator plant in Wicklow.

The IDT corporation’s Toucan subsidiary is expected to create 300 jobs at its new customer service centre in Sligo with the support of IDA Ireland, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin announced yesterday.

Sita Inc is to expand its software operation in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, creating of 123 software development jobs in the next three years.

Turkish-owned company VitrA opened an €8 million ceramic tile plant in Arklow Business Park, adding 30 jobs to the existing 80.

However, the Quinn Group’s Veha radiator plant, in operation since 1966, is to close.

The plant became part of the Quinn Group in May 2004. The decision follows a review of operations, which found there were environmental issues and the market was in decline.

The company said the decision will have no implications for Quinn’s Clonmel plant, which services a different end of the market.

Toucan will establish a customer service centre in Sligo town, to provide support and service to its European operations. It will open later this year.

This is IDT’s second Irish operation. Its European calling card business has been headquartered in Dublin since February 2000.

Mr Martin said: “The north west region has an excellent skills base and its academic institutions are very much geared towards industry and building strong foundations to attract leading international companies like Sita Inc and IDT.”

Toucan managing director Joseph Blass said Sligo beat competition from other European locations.

“With the ready availability of highly qualified and relevantly skilled people, information systems, business knowledge, management skills and suitable premises, Sligo was the logical choice to assist us in our plans for moving Toucan forward,” he said.