'A powerful vote of confidence': Intel announces €5bn investment at Ireland HQ

Company expanding output from its base in Leixlip and strengthen Ireland as semiconductor European manufacturing hub

Intel will spend €5bn expanding its Irish headquarters, the company announced on Monday, expanding European manufacturing output from its base in Leixlip, Co Kildare.

Intel will spend €5bn expanding its Irish headquarters, the company announced on Monday, expanding European manufacturing output from its base in Leixlip, Co Kildare and creating "hundreds" of jobs

The expansion involves upgrading existing fabrication facilities and the installation of hi-tech manufacturing equipment, as global demand for AI and high-performance computing drives the need for advanced silicon to power AI factories. 

The key infrastructure enhancements will also include the expansion of the automated track system to integrate disparate campus modules into one, high-velocity, production environment. 

Work on this has already begun, and will create new high skills jobs at the campus. It will also see specialised tradespeople engaged across construction and equipment installation. 

“This €5bn investment represents a definitive commitment to maximize capacity at our Leixlip campus and increase what we can deliver to Intel Foundry customers," said Intel Foundry executive vice president, chief technical and operations officer, and general manager Naga Chandrasekaran.

“By investing in our existing fabs with state-of-the-art technology and installing cutting-edge tools, we are not just increasing output of critical products like Xeon 6 and next gen Intel Xeon processors built on Intel 3, we are ensuring that Ireland remains at the forefront of the world’s most advanced manufacturing ecosystems, while strengthening the region’s role in the global technology landscape.”

Intel has invested more than €30bn in Ireland since establishing operations in 1989, with the Leixlip campus serving as one of the company's most advanced manufacturing facilities. The site employs 4,900 people and has been at the forefront of semiconductor innovation.

Taoiseach hails 'vote of confidence in Ireland'

Taoiseach Micheál Martin joined Mr Chandrasekaran and IDA chief executive Michael Lohan at Intel headquarters in Leixlip for the announcement.  

“Intel’s latest multi-billion-euro investment in Leixlip is a powerful vote of confidence in Ireland, our skills base and our position at the heart of Europe’s most advanced manufacturing ecosystem," said Mr Martin. 

"At a time of rapid technological change and global competition, this expansion strengthens Ireland’s role in securing resilient semiconductor supply chains and reinforces our ambition to remain a global leader in innovation, productivity and sustainable economic growth.”

Monday's announcement will strengthen Ireland’s semiconductor ecosystem and its position as a leading European manufacturing hub. It also fits the EU's tech-sovereignty ambitions, which envisages a resilient domestic supply of leading-edge processors.

IDA Ireland CEO Michael Lohan said: “Intel is one of Ireland’s longest standing and most strategically important investors. This project demonstrates the value of Ireland’s skilled workforce, innovation ecosystem and stable business environment, while reinforcing Ireland's leadership in advanced semiconductor manufacturing, supporting both European competitiveness and resilient global supply chains.”