Start-up companies integral in creation of up to 600 jobs

THE country received some positive news yesterday with the announcement of almost 600 new jobs around the country, including 445 positions in 24 new start-up companies.

Those jobs, supported by the Government through Enterprise Ireland, were added to by the announcement of 70 new jobs at a new SuperValu in Mountmellick, Co Laois, and 65 jobs in two new Nando’s restaurants in Dublin.

The 445 jobs created in the second quarter of this year are in companies aided by Enterprise Ireland’s High Potential Start Ups programme and are located in Clare, Dublin, Wicklow, Waterford, Offaly, Cork and Kildare.

It follows 310 jobs announced earlier this year, which were again supported by Enterprise Ireland.

The largest single jobs boost within the scheme is 37 positions at Kjaya Holdings in Dublin, which provides medical imaging software systems.

In Cork 35 jobs will be created at Rockboro Analytics, which provides a credit risk-assessment service for credit and insurance markets.

Thirty-four jobs each will be created at Biometric Solutions in Dublin, Global Business Register in Waterford and at Offaly-based Reflex Plastics Technology.

Jobs Minister Richard Bruton said that ensuring high-potential small businesses can be established and operated in Ireland would help to rebuild the economy.

He said steps needed to be taken to achieve jobs targets, including reducing costs and red tape, improving access to finance and promoting Irish innovation.

He said on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that Ireland was a world leader in this regard.

“Many of these companies are operating in precisely the innovative sectors that the Government is targeting for growth: clean tech, life sciences, ICT and financial services,” Mr Coveney said.

The Head of High Potential Start Ups and Scaling at Enterprise Ireland, Greg Treston, said the companies at the centre of the latest jobs announcement were ambitious and would be carving out a place in global markets.

Waterford Fine Gael TD Paudie Coffey welcomed the jobs announcement for Waterford.

Labour TD for Cork South Central Ciaran Lynch said the Rockboro Analytics announcement was “really positive”, adding: “Support for such companies is crucial for Cork.”

In Mountmellick the new €5.5 million store will create 70 jobs locally. It was also pledged that 75% of all goods available in the store will be either produced or sourced in Ireland.

As for the Nando’s announcement, 65 jobs will be created by November thanks to the opening of restaurants at Mary Street and St Andrew Street in Dublin city centre.

The chain already has two outlets in Belfast as well as restaurants in Cork’s Mahon Point, the Dundrum Town Centre and Swords Pavilion.