Up to 200 new jobs for Athlone and Galway sees 65 new jobs at medical devices firm

Courier company DPD is to create new 200 jobs over the next five years.

The company is to invest €13m in its headquarters in Athlone, county Westmeath, to allow it process more goods more efficiently.

DPD says it is making the decision due to the boom in online shopping in particular and the new roles will be in IT, driving and administrative staff.

CEO Brendan O'Neill says they have witnessed a surge in business in recent years.

He said: "This year there are about 100,000 parcels a night in the run-up to Christmas. As a result our hub, which we built back in 2006, has now exceeded its capacity.

"We are building an extension to that hub, basically to allo w the business to expand over the coming 10 years."

In Galway, 65 new jobs are also being created.

Medical device company Phenox GmbH is opening a manufacturing facility in Ballybrit Business Park.

The positions will be rolled out over the next five years.