New jobs to further city’s medicare industry

BY FRANCIS FARRAGHER

THE city’s position as a ‘major player’ in the medicare industry has been further enhanced with the announcement over the past few days of 34 new jobs in a company producing stents for export across the world.

Enterprise Minister, Richard Bruton, confirmed on Friday the creation of the 34 new jobs at Advant Medical in the Parkmore Industrial Estate over the next three years, bringing total employment at the plant to 130.

Advant Medical specialise in the manufacture of vascular stents, balloons and guidewires used in the rapidly expanding area of what are described as minimal invasive’ surgical procedures for the treatment of heart disease and other ailments.

Minister Bruton confirmed that Advant Medical – with support from the Dept. of Enterprise – will invest €2.4m in a major development programme at its Galway plant over the next three years.

“This announcement that Advant Medical, a supplier to a range of leading companies, is expanding and creating 34 jobs is a sign of what is possible for Irish companies in this area.

“I commend Advant on their success, and I am determined to ensure that more companies can take advantage of this opportunity to create the jobs and growth we need,” said Minister Bruton.

The Galway plant will be supplying product to 25 international markets including the USA, Mexico, Italy, Germany, France and India.

City Fine Gael TD Brian Walsh said that the latest jobs announcement was a vote of confidence in Galway’s graduates, its infrastructure and the city as a place in which to work and live.

“It’s also a resounding affirmation of Galway’s position as a thriving hub for the medical device industry, which is a key sector for the county and for the country’s economic recovery,” he said.

Labour TD, Derek Nolan, said that the news was a strong endorsement of Galway as a world centre of excellence for medical device activities, adding that such announcements did not happen by accident.

 For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.