€15m investment to create 35 jobs

A MAJOR investment at online payment company PayPal will create 35 highly-skilled jobs, it was announced yesterday.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen said the IDA-supported expansion at the firm’s west Dublin plant was a boost for the country’s digital and internet industry.

“This investment illustrates that Ireland has the capability and the capacity to continue to attract overseas investment during the current global economic climate,” he said.

The e15 million investment, supported by taxpayers, will include the opening of a PayPal European centre for operational excellence at the Ballycoolin facility in Blanchardstown, which already employs 900 people.

Opening the centre, Mr Cowen said the Government would continue to invest heavily in education to make sure there is a supply of skilled, multilingual graduates suitable for companies like PayPal.

“Ireland is becoming renowned as a location for the most important digital media and internet-based companies, with many of the world leaders in the sector now located in Ireland,” he said.

PayPal allows internet users to send money online without sharing financial information.