1,200 jobs on way in pharmaceutical and manufacturing sectors

MORE than 1,200 jobs will be created in the coming months to boost employment in the border, midlands and eastern regions.

The jobs in the pharmaceutical, manufacturing, and distribution sectors will ease worries that unemployment levels are set to rise as the economy slows.

Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy yesterday revealed that two companies will create 350 jobs in Athy, Co Kildare.

The Austrian furniture firm, ELK, and distribution company, Rowan Transport, will establish plants at the new Athy business park.

ELK will employ 250 people at its factory that will produce timber-frame homes. It has plants across Europe and many of its timber-frame houses are already in Ireland.

The Athy plant will supply homes here and in Britain.

Rowan Transport is relocating its European distribution centre from Holland to Athy and will employ up to 100 people initially.

This latest announcement follows 900 jobs for Longford and Sligo. Chicago-based Abbott Healthcare will employ 300 staff in Sligo, and a further 600 at a plant in the IDA business park at Ballinalee Road in Longford.

Abbott Healthcare is one of the leading manufactures of medical and pharmaceutical goods worldwide.

The Abbott Corporation has had an Irish operation since 1974 and already employs 1,800 workers here.

The company has factories in Sligo at Ballytivnan and Finisklin. These plants manufacture blood screening goods.

The announcement was welcomed by business leaders in Longford. Chamber of commerce president Séamus Butler said it was the result of years of hard work.

“The sun is shining for Longford economically today and the town is taking its place as one of the leading industrial areas in the midlands,” Mr Butler said.

Mr Butler said the jobs will be in the €50,000 to €60,000 pay bracket and the industry will be worth tens of millions to the local economy.

The company also has a very good record as employers, Mr Butler said.

The multi-million pound investment, backed by the Industrial Development Agency, will be officially announced next week by Tánaiste Mary Harney.

The Cabinet is expected to approve the investment at its Tuesday meeting.

Abbott employs 550 workers in Donegal and a staff of 115 work at the company’s plant in Cootehill, Co Sligo that produces nutritional products for children.

From its headquarters in Chicago Abbot Healthcare employs 70,000 worldwide with factories in the US, Germany, and Japan. The total investment by the overseas pharmaceutical sector in Ireland is estimated at more than €11 billion.