OVERSEAS companies are to create another 1,150 new jobs in a series of new investments. The projects bring to 6,000 the number of jobs in IDA Ireland backed projects announced since last January.

Ia the past three weeks alone, the Government has announced a series of investments which will create more than 3,000 jobs in various projects around the country.

The biggest single investment is at Wyeth Medica Ireland in Newbridge, Co Kildare which is creating 320 new jobs in a £44 million expansion of its pharmaceuticals facility. It will bring total employment at the plant to over 800.

Saturn (Solutions) which set up at the City West Business Park near Tallaght, is investing £8 million in its Dublin operation and creating 180 new jobs. The company, which employs 100 people, is expanding its operations and is establishing a new CD-ROM facility at City West Business Park.

Since January IDA Ireland has secured 44 investment projects, the Minister for Enterprise and Employment Mr Bruton said last night. They represent a total investment of more than £220 million.

"It highlights again the fact that overseas companies are impressed with the competitiveness of the Irish economy and are bringing large numbers of new jobs directly and indirectly".

The projects, which involve expansions by existing companies and the setting up of new facilities represent an £80 million investment, by the firms and the IDA.

MPO France is investing £11 million and will establish a new CD-ROM and CD-Audio disc facility at Blanchardstown, Dublin. It will employ 150 people.

Many of the projects will also be located outside Dublin. Color Communications will add more than 90 jobs in a £3.5 million expansion of its facility at Castlerea, Co Roscommon. The company which was established in 1993 manufactures colour cards for the painting and automotive industries currently employs 60 people.

The latest round of job announcement entail several projects in Dublin, but there are also several in Galway, Cork, Waterford, and Limerick.

For example, Philips CSS Ireland is to add the production of surveillance closed circuit television colour cameras to the existing products it makes at the Cork Business and Technology Park. The expansion will add 36 new jobs over the next five years

In Dungarvan, Co Waterford, Stafford Miller is investing £6 million, backed by the IDA. The firm will increase its production capacity for dental cleaning products and will begin production of a new toothpaste product.

Mr Bruton said yesterday's job announcements showed the range of industry sectors which can be attractive for overseas companies operating from Ireland.

"While information technology related companies continue to be the main driving force of IDA Ireland's activity, there is continuing steady development in engineering, health care, pharmaceuticals and plastics.