HUNDREDS of jobs are to be created in Dublin 15 following last week’s announcement that Alexion Pharma is to expand its operations in Ireland.
The biopharma group says the
?¬75 million expansion will create 200 new jobs at a new facility in the area and it’s expected 200 construction workers will be needed to build the plant.
The company, which specialises in developing therapies for patients with rare diseases, originally announced its decision to establish a global supply chain and quality operations in Ireland last year.
In February, Fingal County Council granted permission for the company to develop a site at College Park, next to the Blanchardstown Institute of Technology.
The new operation will be housed in a 15,000 sq mt laboratory, office, packaging and warehouse facility spread across 41 acres. The initial phase of the project will see the creation of approximately 200 new jobs by 2016 in supply chain, quality control packaging, warehousing and supporting functions.
Alexion already employs more than 60 people at a site in Park West, Dublin 12 and has plans to acquire a second site in Athlone. The company has already begun recruiting for the new local jobs at College Park.
Speaking at last week’s announcement of the new operation in Dublin 15 CEO Leonard Bell said:
“Our choice of Ireland reflects the calibre of the workforce and the country’s culture of innovation, and we look forward to an on-going partnership with the Irish Government, IDA Ireland and local communities in the years to come.
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Barry O’Leary of IDA Ireland described Alexion as
“one of the world’s leading biopharmaceutical companies
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“Their choice of Ireland as a location for their business is an endorsement of the strong infrastructure we have available for pharma companies,
? he added.
“The strong flow of investment into Ireland from biopharmaceutical companies is due to our flexible workforce and dedicated training programs, such as those available in the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) which develop specific skills required in the biopharma industry.
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Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the company’s decision to develop a facility in Blanchardstown marked
“a significant commitment to Ireland
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“The company was recognised by Forbes as the world’s second most innovative and I am delighted it has chosen to establish operations in the country that magazine recognised as the best in the world for business,
? he added.
Local TD and Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, said her department was on standby to help Alexion with its recruitment needs.
“This is a hugely significant commitment by Alexion to Ireland and is a massive and timely jobs boost for Dublin West,
? she added.
“The Government’s key priority is getting people back to work.
“The number of people in work increased by 61,000 last year. And as seen by this week’s Live Register figures, unemployment has fallen from a crisis peak of 15.1 per cent to 11.8 per cent now.
“But that is still too high, and that is why I am absolutely determined to increase the pace of progress we are making.
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Dublin West TD and Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar, also welcomed Alexion’s announcement.
“This is further good news for Dublin West and Ireland,
? he said.
“Unemployment still remains stubbornly high, and the latest live register figures for Dublin 15 stand at just under 8,000. This is far too high, and reducing the unemployment level is the Government’s over-riding priority.
“However progress is being made. The numbers signing on in Dublin 15 peaked at 9,141 in August 2011. It is now fallen below 8,000 for the last four months, the first time it has done this since the start of 2009.
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Local councillor David McGuinness, who’s expected to run for Fianna Fail in the upcoming Dublin West by-election, described last week’s development as
“a major milestone for Blanchardstown
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“It represents the culmination of intensive efforts on behalf of Fingal County Council to secure a multi-million euro investment into Dublin 15,
? he said.
“Economic development and job creation are badly needed in the Blanchardstown region. Alexion were thought to be vacating the European market place and this is a major coup for Blanchardstown, Dublin and Ireland.
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