Analog Devices, the US manufacturer of integrated circuits which employs more than 1,300 people in Limerick, is planning to expand its Irish operations with a new design centre in Cork.

While Analog has yet to sign an agreement with IDA Ireland for the new design centre, the company's head of human resources, Mr John Horgan, said the Cork design project would go ahead and would initially employ about 20 engineers, rising to 40 within two years.