Abbott expansion to create 950 jobs in next five years
A total of 950 high quality jobs are to be created over the next five years as part of an ongoing development in the north west and midlands, it was confirmed today.
Tánaiste Mary Harney officially opened Abbott Laboratories’ new facility in Longford and the expansion of its existing facility in Sligo.
More than 500 people have already been recruited as part of the €115m investment by the healthcare company, supported by IDA Ireland.
“The developments involve a range of high skills based, high value processes and 80% of the positions will be filled by third level graduates,” Ms Harney said.
“The speed of construction of the new facilities and the rate at which the operations are coming on-stream is a credit to Abbott and to everyone involved and I congratulate them all.
“Manufacturing has begun at both facilities and the first products were shipped from Sligo in Q4 2004 and will be shipped from Longford in Q4 2005.”
Ms Harney said the ongoing development was further proof of Ireland’s continuing ability to attract and support leading-edge global investments.
“These latest developments will have a major beneficial impact on the Midlands and North-West regions over the coming years,” she added.
Abbott is one of the world’s largest healthcare companies and one of the largest healthcare employers in Ireland, with more than 2,000 employees at seven facilities throughout the country.
The latest investment will make it the largest diagnostics manufacturing company in Ireland and will provide Abbott with the additional capacity required to service its global diagnostics business.
In addition to manufacturing diagnostics test kits for a wide range of diseases and medical conditions, the fully integrated operations at Longford and Sligo will have a high level of technical support activities.
Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics.
The company employs more than 60,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.
Meanwhile, the DIY retailer B&Q has announced plans to open an outlet in Naas, Co Kildare, later this year.
The company said 100 jobs would be created at the store, which will be its seventh in Ireland.
