Search Giant Creates 230 Irish Jobs

An investment from an Internet search giant will create 230 jobs in Dublin, it has been announced.

In what is being hailed as a significant boost Google has announced plans to invest €75m into a new data centre in the capital, creating 30 permanent jobs and 200 temporary jobs.

The company has acquired eleven acres of land and an existing building on the Profile Park industrial estate in Dublin 22 and construction work on the highly energy-efficient data centre will begin soon.

Once built the data centre will become a specialised building in which online services such as the Google search engine, Gmail and Google Maps, will be run.

"The facility will rank amongst the most energy-efficient data centres in the world," the company said.

"Google will use advanced air-cooling technology that has been tested and perfected at Google's existing rented data centre facility in Dublin.

"This technology takes advantage of Ireland's naturally cool climate and uses outside air to cool computers instead of costly and energy-hungry air-conditioning units."

Thirty jobs will be created when the facility is up and running, including computer technicians, electrical and mechanical engineers, and catering and security staff.

Meanwhile 200 temporary jobs are due to be created during the construction phase of the project, the company said.

Jobs Minister Richard Bruton said: "The global cloud computing industry offers Ireland a massive opportunity for jobs and economic growth.

"The decision by Google, one of the most important multinational companies in Ireland, to locate a state-of-the-art data centre in Dublin is an endorsement of our policies in this area, and a sign of what is possible if we continue our focus."

Separately in another positive announcement up to 100 jobs have been promised with the move of a financial services company from India to Co Kerry.

JRI America said it was shifting its software development operation from Bangalore to Tralee.

The firm, a subsidiary of Japanese financial services company SMFG, vowed to create as many as 100 "highly-skilled" jobs over the next five years.

Recruitment has already begun for positions at the plant, which will be sited at the Kerry Technology Park.

(LB/BMcC)