UK Software Leader To Double Employment in Dublin 250 New Jobs at Logica/Aldiscon

Mary Harney, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, announced today (Wednesday 9th September 1998) that Logica/Aldiscon will expand their operations to employ 250 more people. They already employ 280 people and their IDA Ireland backed expansion will increase job numbers at their mobile telecommunications software centre in Dublin's Harbourmaster Place to 530.

Logica/Aldiscon is a subsidiary of Logica PLC, one of the largest Information Technology (IT) software and services companies in the UK. The Tanaiste said that this development would provide high value employment for skilled people in a key sector of the economy - software. "This sector in Ireland is the second largest exporter of software in the world, next to the United States and has 15,000 people employed with an equal balance between overseas and indigenous companies. It continues to grow at an unprecedented pace," she said.

The Tanaiste revealed that employment in manufacturing and interationally traded services was growing strongly despite the volatility in world markets. "Job approvals are continuing apace and quite a number of new projects are under active negotiation. I hope to be able to make a number of significant announcements before the end of the year."

Founded in 1969, Logica PLC employs 6,100 people in a range of market sectors such as finance, telecoms, energy and utilities, industry, government, defence, transport and space. Among its client base are companies such as Mobil Oil, BNP, Hewlett Packard, IBM, British Telecom and Euro Tunnel. The company has offices in 23 countries and revenues of Stg£338.5 million for the year ended 30th June 1997.

In August 1997, Logica PLC purchased Aldiscon, a privately owned Irish company, which is a leading developer of innovative infrastructure products, systems and services for Digital Cellular and Satellite network operators worldwide. The company is the world leader in Short Message Services Centres (SMSC) with over 200 live sites in the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific regions, providing for all the major technologies.

Following the acquisition Logica/Aldiscon has been structured as the main mobile telecommunications business division within Logica. Today's announcement represents the company's three year business plans to develop existing and new products for this business sector.