Almost 400 new jobs are to be created by 10 indigenous Irish companies as part of a €25m investment supported by Enterprise Ireland.
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Harney TD said that the companies vary from new start-ups with high export growth potential to established companies expanding activities.
“Six of the companies are located outside Dublin and are involved in activities such as medical devices, information technology, engineering and innovative furniture production. The advanced technology-based orientation of these regionally-based companies is particularly encouraging,” Harney said.
“All of these investments were made in the first three months of 2003 and underline the importance of indigenous enterprise to the Irish economy during what has been a difficult period for both local and international business. It also confirms that Ireland does maintain a competitive advantage in key sectors. We must build on this momentum and continue to encourage existing business and prospective new investors to strengthen the employment base of Irish industry,” the Tánaiste continued.
“In a difficult global trading environment, these companies have identified market opportunities and are prepared to invest substantial resources in responding to those opportunities. These investments will help some companies to export for the first time, will help others to consolidate and build market share, and will help others to perform critical R&D,” she added.
Outgoing Enterprise Ireland CEO Dan Flinter said: “These companies represent significant investments made by Enterprise Ireland in the first three months of 2003. During the same period Enterprise Ireland also supported investments in approximately 200 companies, in activities such as R&D, training and market investigation.”
The companies and the jobs created include:
Channelle Group, Galway (healthcare, 103 jobs)
CP3 Software Solutions, Dublin (communications software, 20 jobs)
Ecom Interaction Services, Cork (web-enabled call centres, 40 jobs)
Vistamed, Leitrim (medical devices, 30 jobs)
Legacy Web Services, Dublin (e-business, 17 jobs)
Steripack, Offaly (medical devices, 35 jobs)
Cape Technologies, Dublin (telecoms software, 71 jobs)
Aliope, Dublin (digital video for mobile, 11 jobs)
Sprint & Precision Engineering, Wexford (mechanical engineering, 32 jobs)
Lifestyle Furniture, Laois (innovative furniture products, 27 jobs)
By John Kennedy