Donegal set to get jobs boost

A major jobs announcement and investment package that has the potential to transform the knowledge economy of the north-west is expected to be made by a leading research and manufacturing centre today.

Donegal-based Randox Teoranta, part of global diagnostics group Randox Laboratories, will unveil details of a large-scale investment package later today that it says will increase its current 70-strong workforce “several fold”.

Managing director of parent company Randox Laboratories, Peter Fitzgerald; minister of state Joe McHugh, and Údarás na Gaeltachta’s Stever Ó Cúláin will be among those in attendance at the announcement in Dungloe, Co Donegal.

The company is also expected to engage with key diaspora networks in the coming weeks in an effort to draw from a wider talent pool to fill the expected positions.

Situated on the Atlantic coastline, Randox Teoranta’s engineering, manufacturing and research and development facility conducts research into clinical diagnostics on conditions such as Alzheimer’s and liver and kidney diseases.

The company was founded in 2008 with the support of Údarás na Gaeltachta as part of a reported €7.5m investment.

The firm’s Antrim-headquartered parent company employs 1,300 people in 145 countries working on the development of technology for hospitals, clinical, research and molecular labs; food testing; forensic toxicology; veterinary laboratories and life sciences.

Last year, Randox Laboratories reported turnover of £78.4m (€98.9m).