Tánaiste announces 500 new jobs for Cork Further good news on the way for Kerry - Harney

Tánaiste Mary Harney, on a visit to Cork today (Friday 23rd July 1999) announced that 500 new jobs will be created in three IDA Ireland supported investments. These new jobs will be in Cork City in an expansion by an existing company (SMT Centre Inc.) and in two new investments (Pilz Gmbh & Co.of Germany and Datastream Systems Inc.,)

An expansion by The SMT Centre Inc (Surface Mount Technology Centre) will add over 350 new jobs at its electronic contract manufacturing facility. Two new investments - Pilz Gmbh & Co of Germany, a market leader in safety technology for industrial automation, will create almost 100 new jobs in a software development, manufacturing and customer support facility and Datastream Systems, Inc., a provider of Enterprise Asset Maintenance (EAM) systems, will create at least 50 new jobs at its new software operation.

The Tánaiste also performed the official opening of the new IDA Ireland supported facility for DeCare Delta Systems Ireland Ltd (DDSI) at University Technology Centre, Curraheen Road, Cork. DDSI has already recruited 40 of the 100 software staff is needs. The company is responsible for development, implementation and technical support of computer systems for its parent companies.

The Tánaiste, welcoming the new investments, said, "This has been a very good week for Munster. Today's announcement together with the announcements earlier this week brings a total of 800 new jobs to Cork and Kerry."

"These announcements are a further endorsement of the Government's policy to improve the regional dispersal of job creation. This involves attracting sectors of industry to regions where they have not traditionally located. It also involves working with existing companies in winning further higher value activities from the parent group in order to increase their potential for new job creation and to 'deepen their roots' in the communities where they are located," the Tánaiste added.

The Tánaiste concluded with an additional piece of good news for Co. Kerry. "Ireland is at a very advanced stage of negotiations with an overseas company regarding a project for the former Pretty Polly in Killarney. IDA expects to successfully conclude these negotiations within the 8 to 10 weeks and I should then be in a position to give the full details of the investment which will be expected to provide up to 300 new jobs for the people of Killarney and surrounding areas. Once agreement is reached with IDA Ireland the company has indicated that refurbishment of the building to suit its specific needs and recruitment of the first people will get underway quickly," she said.