Lotus Development Corporation, the software arm of the giant IBM Corporation, is to invest about $15 million in a new technical support centre in Blanchardstown, Co Dublin, which will employ more than 100 people.

Lotus already employs 500 people at its European product development and operations centre in Santry and was one of the first international software companies to locate in Ireland when it came to Dublin in 1985.

The new centre in Blanchardstown will provide technical support to all of Lotus's corporate customers in Europe, the East and Africa. Lotus is now recruiting graduates in computer-related disciplines with language skills in two or more European languages. Two-thirds of the jobs are for technical analysts and the centre is expected to be fully operational by next March.

"We selected Dublin for this new facility because of proximity to any synergies with the Lotus European Product Development Centre in Dublin as well as with IBM's existing sales and support centre. This announcement also further increases the role which Ireland plays in the success of the IBM group of companies worldwide," said Ms Elaine Stephen, general manager of European product development for Lotus.