Tánaiste Announces 290 New Jobs for Monaghan and Limerick

Mary Harney, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment today (Wednesday 18th November, 1998) announced the creation of 290 new jobs in three projects in Monaghan and Limerick.

The Tánaiste said there would be 140 jobs created in Century Homes (90 jobs) and John E. Coyles Furniture (60 jobs), supported by Enterprise Ireland, over the next 2 years in Monaghan Town, in the timber and furniture sector. The Tánaiste also announced that HADCO Corporation of the USA, supported by IDA Ireland, is targeting 150 jobs over the next 5 years in Limerick in the electronics sector.

Announcing details of the expansion plans of the two companies in Monaghan Town, the Tánaiste said "these companies are totally committed to R&D and their success can be attributed to timely innovation of products and processes to meet the demands of changing markets and consumer needs. Both companies are highly successful export led companies and are investing in facilities that will keep them to the forefront of their sectors well into the next century."

HADCO Corporation of the USA is to establish a Customer and Engineering Services Centre for its European, Middle Eastern and African markets for printed circuit boards and complex backplane assemblies at a new building at the National Technological Park, Limerick. Recruitment of the employees is to begin immediately.

The Tánaiste said, "HADCO's selection of Limerick is a particularly timely decision. It will offer employment opportunities for people with multi-lingual, engineering and communications skills. These opportunities are in addition to substantial numbers of new jobs being provided by companies such as Dell Computer, PKS Systems, Martin Dawes and Fullerton, who are continuing to build up their employment."

The Tánaiste added that the Response Group set up to deal with the impact of the closure of Krups was now in full operation and focusing on the specific issues and requirements for new job creation related to the workforce. She said that the company was also undertaking a detailed evaluation of the site and buildings so as to be able to make the best possible options available to any prospective industries which IDA Ireland may bring to visit the facility. "In addition, I am assured that IDA Ireland has already commenced a very intensive marketing programme of Limerick and its resources and I expect to see the beginning of a response to this campaign over the coming months."

The Tánaiste also announced details of a new skills training initiative for the Irish Furniture Industry to improve the management, technical and innovation skills within the sector. The one year course organised by Enterprise Ireland in conjunction with the National Furniture Manufacturer's Association and Fás will help the industry to improve its management and technical infrastructure and help staff develop a more structured and secure career. The course will be held in Monaghan, Navan and Dublin and lectures will be provided by experts from the Dublin Institute of Technology, the Furniture Technology Centre in Letterfrack and the Wood Technology Centre in University of Limerick.