Microsoft Ireland opens new office and announces 100 new jobs

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has officially opened Microsoft's new office building, the Atrium, in Sandyford, Co. Dublin.

The new office is part of a $165m (€176m) investment programme being conducted by Microsoft in Ireland over a two year period.

As well as the new office the Taoiseach also announced the opening of Microsoft's European Internet Data Centre, located at the National Digital Park in Citywest, Dublin.

Microsoft has said that it is to recruit 100 people over the next year to support the need of its Irish operations. This number is in addition to the 100 new jobs created last year.

Speaking about the European Data Centre, Microsoft VP and Managing Director, European Operations Centre, Kevin Diloon said "Ireland was selected as the home for our European Internet Data Centre, which provides a clear indication of the importance of Ireland to Microsoft in a global context.

Over 250 services are now located in the Data Centre which is the hub of Microsoft's internet traffic for Europe and we are on track for rolling out additional elements of our corporate hosting and.NET strategy using this strategic infrastructure over the coming months and years."

The Internet Data Centre is linked to the new Atrium building by an STM 4 broadband connection and is fully equipped and prepared, through broadband infrastructure for the future rollout of .NET and MSN services.

The Taoiseach said that, employing 1,800 people, Microsoft is now the single biggest employer in the Irish software sector.

The company spends over €350 million each year in the economy and accounts for 6% of national export. The Microsoft operations in Ireland are the 2nd largest outside company headquarters in Redmond, USA (after Japan).

At present around 25% of the company revenues arise in the EMEA market region, which is serviced and supported by Microsoft's operations in Ireland.