Boost for Galway as Taoiseach confirms 280 new jobs

A total of 280 new jobs have been confirmed at five separate companies in Galway by the Taoiseach.

Four of the firms are located in the city – during a day-long visit to Galway yesterday (Monday), Enda Kenny announced 75 jobs at communications giant Avaya in Mervue; 25 jobs at ICT company PFH Technologies in Merlin Park; 15 positions at Vulcan Solutions on the Headford Road; and he confirmed 25 jobs at Perseus Telecom’s new operations centre in Parkmore West.

The news came on the same day as Mr Kenny officially announced 140 new jobs at Valeo Vision Systems in Tuam, which makes safety camera systems for cars.

Avaya (formerly Nortel) develops call-centre technology for large and medium-sized business worldwide and already employs around 400 people at the base in Galway Technology Park in Mervue.

The expanded workforce will be involved in developing next generation networking products.

The company recruiting staff in various positions, including research and development, engineering, finance, IT, and administrative support. Details on the new roles are available from avaya.com/careers

Mr Kenny said the new jobs were “great news for Galway”, and part of the Government’s ambition to secure economic recovery.

“Supporting sectors where highly skilled jobs can be created is one of our priorities and Avaya’s expansion of its R&D facility is very welcome in that regard,” said Mr Kenny.

Martin Shanahan, CEO of IDA Ireland said: “Galway has been a hub of innovation for years with a succession of major companies choosing the city as their preferred location to research and develop their businesses. Being a university city, Galway can provide a pool of highly-skilled talent from which Avaya can attract their workforce.

“The quality of the lifestyle in Galway is another issue that comes up regularly when we talk to IDA clients locating in the region. Quality of life is an increasingly important component in the decision-making process that companies go through when deciding where to locate their business,” said Mr Shanahan.

Read more in this week’s Connacht Sentinel