THE US photographic multinational, Eastman Kodak, is set to announce a 400-job development for the Plassey Business Park in Limerick.

IDA support for the £50 million development was approved by the Cabinet on Wednesday last.

The announcement is due to be made before Christmas. The winning of the project for Ireland by the IDA came after a difficult contest with its British counterparts.

In February, the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Mr Bruton, announced Government approval for a 250-job project by Eastman Kodak in Youghal, Co Cork. The company is to set up a recordable compact disc factory there.

The Limerick project involves developing the technology which would allow photographs and other images to be easily read and reproduced by compact discs.

Eastman Kodak employs around 9,600 million people worldwide.