IT operation to create 350 jobs

Up to 350 jobs are to be created over the next two years as part of a multi-million euro investment at a business centre in west Dublin, it emerged today.

Business Objects, a global IT software company, revealed they are to set up an operation centre at Park West Business Park in Tallaght.

Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin said the move highlighted Ireland’s position as a “location of choice” for major international companies.

“It’s a significant development for the country, and a significant coup for us,” Mr Martin said.

“This new centre will play a strategic role in the company’s development of its global markets and is a testament to Ireland’s highly attractive business environment for leading international companies.”

The centre’s 350 staff will serve customers across Europe, the United States, Middle East, Africa and Asia when it is fully established by the end of 2006.

Virtually all posts will be filled by graduates with expertise in languages, marketing, finance and management, the minister said.

The investment, secured with the support of IDA Ireland, brings global employee numbers to more than 4,000, serving 26,000 customers in over 80 countries.

Meanwhile, Mr Martin said he was particularly interested in improving investment in County Donegal, and claimed the region’s full potential still had to be exploited.

The north west has been hit by factory closures and several hundred job losses in the textile industry in the last few months.

Mr Martin said his department would promote the county to investors in a bid to reverse the recent trends.

“There are some strengths there but we will visit there and see how we can add to those initiatives that are there,” the minister said.

“The IDA’s first task is to develop projects for Ireland and we have, the Government has, a very strong regional policy of areas we want to develop.”