Vodafone jobs boost for Southside

THERE was further good news on the jobs front last week when Vodafone announced 200 new positions on the Southside.

The mobile phone company is to establish a new European sales centre in Carrickmines – known as

‘Vodafone Red Edge’ – as part of a

?¬60 million investment.

The announcement at Vodafone’s Leopardstown headquarters was welcomed by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton.

Communications Minister Alex White, who was also at the event, said Vodafone’s selection of Carrickmines as the principal location of its European sales centre underpins the strength of the telecommunications sector in this country.

“Ireland was chosen as the location for the centre, following an evaluation process, because of South Dublin’s access to a large pool of the country’s highly skilled and talented graduate population,

? Minister White said.

Olivia Mitchell, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Rathdown, described the new jobs as

“a fantastic win

? for the area.

“Dublin Rathdown is a prime investment location, increasingly successful in attracting businesses offering high quality jobs,

? she said.

“It is a location recognised for its access to excellent infrastructure, such as the Luas, the M50 and respected third level institutions, and is an ideal choice for Vodafone’s new European sales centre which will result in this vast increase in its existing workforce at Leopardstown.

?

Local councillor Neale Richmond (FG) said the new jobs would provide a welcome boost to the local economy.

“These new jobs build on recent announcements by Microsoft, CarTrawler and Bank of America/Merril Lynch,

? he stated.

“All these new jobs are a huge endorsement of our area as a great place to invest.

?

Speaking at the announcement in Leopardstown, Taoiseach Enda Kenny thanked Vodafone for its vote of confidence in the Irish economy.

“Here in South County Dublin, this new Northern European Inside Sales Centre – and particularly the associated 200 new jobs – will contribute and add to the Irish success story of economic recovery and job creation, and is very welcome indeed,

? Mr Kenny said.