Finian McGrath
Question:45 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding IDA job creation projects for the north side of Dublin for 2004. [31839/03]
Written Answers. - Job Creation.
IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to Ireland, including its regions and areas. IDA's strategy for the Dublin area is to attract and expand major FDI projects, moving up the value chain while doing so.
Since September 2002 eight significant investment projects have been announced for the north side of Dublin city. Job creation in these projects will continue throughout 2004. These projects-expansions are as follows. On 16 September 2003 it was announced that eBay, and its secure on-line payment subsidiary PayPal were establishing new business operations in Blanchardstown with the creation of 800 jobs by 2005. The company is moving into its new 50,000 square foot facility in February 2004 and already employs 60.
On 8 May 2003 a major expansion was announced for Gerard Laboratories of its Pharma facility at Baldoyle Industrial Estate. The expansion of the company's tabletting facility will involve an investment of almost €40 million and will create an additional 380 jobs by 2010. The company currently employs approximately 300 people.
On 23 April 2003, it was announced that Accenture, Ireland's leading management consulting and technology service company, is planning an additional 150 jobs before the end of the year. The new jobs, which will be concentrated in the company's operations in Dublin, are being created in response to increased demand for the company's services, and will cover a broad range of areas, including software development, web services, business processes, IT outsourcing and application management.
On 14 April 2003, it was announced that Overture Services Inc., the global leader in commercial search services on the Internet, had established its new search services and operations centre at East Point Business Park and will employ a multinational workforce of nearly 100 editors and customer service representatives by the end of 2003.
On 12 March 2003, it was announced that Google, the world's leading Internet search company, is to establish its first operations centre outside the US, with the support of IDA Ireland. The centre will be a key link in Google's global business, serving Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The investment will create more than 200 jobs over the next three years with recruitment already under way.
On 21 February 2003, it was announced that multinational company Ingersoll Rand planned to create 200 new jobs over the next two years in its global export sales and service trading company, Ingersoll-Rand International Limited, IRI.
On 14 November 2002, it was announced that up to 150 new jobs are planned by Hertz European service centre in Swords. The jobs, to be created by 2004, will offer opportunities from entry to management level.
On 18 September 2002, Symantec Corporation, the world leader in Internet security, was approved IDA assistance for two new investments. The two investments are for the establishment of a Symantec security response centre, the company's only research and development facility in Europe, and for the expansion of the existing facility following its consolidation as the European operations centre. The investments will add approximately 250 new high quality and high skill jobs over three years. The company is continuing to implement this expansion project and currently employ approximately 450 people.
IDA Ireland is continuing to market north Dublin as a potential location for inward investment. E-business continues to be a focus for IDA Ireland in the area, especially amongst the existing client base. For example, IBM has added an e-procurement activity to its Mulhuddart technical campus, which represents a significant enhancement to their existing facility. The IFSC, with over 450 companies employing 9,000 people, will continue to expand and create high value jobs in financial services and IT.
I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued by IDA Ireland will bear fruit in terms of additional overseas investment and jobs for the people of north Dublin during 2004.