1,500 construction jobs in pipeline

Recent inward investment contracts signed by some of the world’s largest corporations should create up to 1,500 construction jobs over the next couple of years, IDA Ireland has claimed.

Fresh investment in Ireland by the likes of Apple, Google, Microsoft and pharma giants Eli Lilly and Boston Scientific call for newly constructed facilities, rather than simply existing office space.

IDA Ireland has estimated 1.5m sq ft of new build is necessary; something which will also provide a much-needed shot in the arm for the country’s construction sector.

“Announcements in recent days have shown the direct contribution foreign direct investment can make, but what is sometimes overlooked are the secondary, or spill-over, effects,” IDA Ireland chief executive Barry O’Leary said.

“Chief among these is the boost to the construction trade, with a demand for new build growing rapidly. This will mean fresh demand for 1,500 construction workers,” he added.

Jobs and Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton said yesterday: “If we are to achieve the levels of employment we’re targeting; the construction sector will have to play a role. We all know that the sector grew to unsustainable levels during the boom, but it is equally true that it is unsustainably small now.”

Reacting to the IDA’s estimates, Construction Industry Federation director general, Tom Parlon, said: “Foreign direct investment has been one of the few sources of optimism to the construction industry at a time when there has been little activity and high levels of unemployment in the sector.

“The jobs and economic impact generated by these new projects will be a shot in the arm to the industry and we hope to see further investment in the months and years ahead.”

All of this comes after a recent visit to Dublin by the European Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship Antonio Tajani, who said that Ireland is currently perceived internationally as one of the most attractive locations in the world for business investment.

He added that he was confident that Ireland will play a “significant” role in boosting European growth, innovation and competitiveness, as it emerges from recession.

Meanwhile, independent enterprise body Connect Ireland has said that it has built up a pipeline of around 40 high-end foreign direct investment prospects and is hopeful of unveiling three investments in early summer.

The company — established by entrepreneur Terry Clune only last month — has been appointed by IDA Ireland to deliver on the ‘Succeed in Ireland’ initiative, which forms part of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs programme.

Connect Ireland seeks to attract inward investment from smaller sized enterprises and uses the Irish diaspora abroad to drum up interest. One of its aims is to deliver a broader regional spread of foreign direct investment in Ireland and is chiefly targeting companies in north America and Asia.