Over 150 new jobs on the way for the Southside

THE Taoiseach Enda Kenny was on the Southside last week as he welcomed the creation of 150 new jobs for the area.

In a €15 million-plus investment in the Irish healthcare sector, Euromedic, one of Ireland’s leading independent diagnostic imaging providers, is rebranding as Affidea.

Mr Kenny attended the announcement event at Affidea’s state-of-the-art Dundrum clinic where he said Affidea’s investment and expansion were a vote of confidence in Ireland’s economy and a positive development for the primary health care sector.

“The Government will continue to work to secure the recovery so that companies like Affidea can grow and create more jobs,” he declared.

The jobs, which will be a mix of clinical and administrative roles, will be spread across existing and new clinics.

Affidea has had a major impact on primary healthcare since its establishment in Ireland in 2007. Its presence in the market significantly increased the availability of diagnostic services to patients.

 This increased capacity enabled costs, such as that of MRIs, to fall dramatically to a current average cost of €250 today.

In 2016, Affidea will conduct over 160,000 MRI and other diagnostic services for patients, of which, 47 per cent are covered by private health insurance and 45 per cent pay cash in order to escape long public waiting lists.

Tom Finn, Chief Executive Officer, Affidea Ireland said: “I believe that today marks the beginning of a primary healthcare evolution for Ireland.

“The creation of over 100 new jobs means that our current and new clinics will be able to serve a greater number of patients, quickly, professionally and to the highest of standards.

“At Affidea we are passionate about health and compassionate towards people because, ultimately, nothing is more important than health.  We believe in ‘open access to all’ and the provision of a ‘privately provided’ healthcare approach being adopted in Ireland.

“This would dramatically reduce, if not eradicate, waiting lists for many diagnostic imaging services.

Affidea has recently embarked on a pilot project with the HSE to deliver Ultrasound services to rural communities.  We see this as the first step in this journey.”

Euromedic currently employs over 135 full time staff in clinical and administrative roles. The company’s total investment in Ireland to date to €55 million means the Dundrum clinic will be the first to showcase the new brand with all other Euromedic clinics rebranding by the end of November.

Meanwhile, 50 more jobs have been created at PlanNet21 Communications after it announced it purchased a new 29,000sqf Global HQ in the Citywest Business Campus.

The new premises will facilitate the company’s requirements for the research and development needs and to accommodate staff growth.

 Ireland’s hottest growing technology firm and Ireland’s most advanced Cisco Gold Partner, PlanNet21, was a finalist in this year’s EY ‘International Entrepreneur Of The Year’.

They have made a significant investment in purchasing a new Global HQ in the prestigious Citywest Business Campus after earlier this year announcing a €20million investment in a wholly owned Data Centre in Blanchardstown.

“This is the next phase of the business for PlanNet21 Communications,  said Michael Hannon Co-founder and CFO.

The Taoiseach cut the ribbon for the official opening of the luxurious new offices while they announced ambitious plans and the recruitment of another 50 new employees.