Yahoo to create 400 jobs in Dublin

INTERNET giant Yahoo has announced plans to create 400 new jobs at its new European headquarters in Dublin.

But the shine was taken off yesterday’s announcement with 80 voluntary redundancies coming from a factory in the city.

Yahoo, which currently employs 200 people at East Point Business Park in Dublin, said it will add the 400 jobs over the next five years. The expansion is being backed by the IDA.

The company said it is investing millions in making Dublin its European Operations Headquarters. It said 300 of these jobs will be for third-level graduates and it is seeking financial services, customer support, IT staff and website editorial employees.

John Marcom, a senior vice-president of Yahoo, said the company had looked at a number of other countries before deciding to make Dublin its base.

“Our decision to locate the European Operations Headquarters in Ireland was influenced by several factors - the success of our existing operation in Dublin, Overture Services, which has surpassed all forecasted operating targets; the calibre and volume of graduates available in Ireland; the up-to-date and cost competitive telecommunications and data centre infrastructures and the assistance of IDA Ireland,” Mr Marcom said.

However, yesterday’s announcement was tempered by news that the adhesives maker Loctite was seeking 80 voluntary redundancies from its 420-strong workforce in Tallaght, west Dublin.

The redundancies bring the total number of jobs lost this year to more than 700, roughly the same figure as has been created.

Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister Micháel Martin said yesterday that he was disappointed by the jobs losses but the overall employment situation was largely positive.

He said the State agencies were actively looking to replace the jobs that had been lost.

“In terms of training, we have increased our investment to target low skilled employees,” said Mr Martin. “At all levels we have to increase the overall skills. “We have asked the State agencies to go into those areas to help those employees find alternative employment and make training courses available.”

He said the nature of employment has changed in recent years and that the Government was seeking to attract investment for skilled workers.

Mr Martin added: “We’ve had, over the last three years, quite a number of closures and a lot of those employees did find other jobs.”

Separately yesterday, the IDA’s chief executive denied a report that medical company Guidant had shelved a plan to expand in Ireland.

“Guidant are expanding in Clonmel. As we announced in mid last year they are doubling their workforce,” Sean Dorgan said.

It also emerged last night that the aerospace company Shorts is to cut more jobs, shedding 280 positions from its Belfast base.