200 new Google jobs 'show strength of IT sector': IBEC

Employers’ group IBEC has said today's 200-job investment by Google highlighted the strength of the country’s information and communication technologies sector.

Paul Sweetman, who heads up Ibec’s hi-tech group, ICT Ireland, said: “Ireland continues to be the location of choice for major multinational corporations.

“The ICT sector is leading Ireland’s Smart Economy, with seven of the top 10 global ICT companies having a major presence here.

“In addition to the 200 jobs announced by Google today, over 2,000 new jobs in the ICT multinational sector have been announced since January 2010.”

Internet giant Google will create the 200 jobs in Dublin with a new operations centre, it was revealed today.

The offices, at Eastpoint Business Park in the city’s Docklands, are set to be fully up and running by the end of the year

Google said the centre will focus mainly on its geographic-based products such as Google Maps and Google Local.

And the company, which currently employs 1,500 people in Dublin, has already started recruiting for graduates with strong IT skills.

David Martin, Google’s director of geo operations in Europe, said the jobs boost reflected the firm’s positive experience since it set up in Dublin in 2003.

“Dublin is rapidly becoming the multilingual internet capital of Europe and Google is proud to be leading the charge on this and further increasing our presence here,” he added.

“We are constantly seeking to improve and further develop our location-based products and Dublin will now be a centre of excellence for this activity.”

Staff at Google’s Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) headquarters on Barrow Street in the city currently offer customer support to more than 25 countries.

John Herlihy, Google’s vice president of global ad operations, said the office had acted as a magnet for talented employees from across Europe.

He added: “The new operations centre will build on this success and will strengthen the importance of Dublin to the company as a whole.”

People interested in applying for the new roles can contact recruiters Manpower and CPL for more information.