BELL LABS Ireland announced yesterday it is to create more than 70 new high-calibre technology jobs.

Meanwhile, two separate companies, Synergy Security and Nua Healthcare, said they would create a further 130 jobs.

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Mary Coughlan yesterday announced a major expansion programme of Bell Labs at its Blanchardstown facility in Dublin.

The programme is supported by the Government through IDA Ireland, and will enable Bell Labs, a subsidiary of telecoms equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent, to increase the number of people working on its new “Green Touch” initiative.

It is hoped that up to 70 positions will be created over the next five years.

Ms Coughlan said this represented a “hugely important strategic investment” both for Bell Labs and for Ireland.

She said that although the economy had turned a corner, it remained fragile, but technology would be to the forefront of future economic growth.

On the issue of access to credit for small businesses, Ms Coughlan said she hoped to bring a proposal for a loan-guarantee scheme to Government shortly. However, she did not want to create expectations that could not be met.

Elsewhere, Synergy Security, a company which has been formed following the merger of Rapier Security Group and Express Security Group, is to create 100 jobs before the end of 2010.

Synergy Security provides security services to a wide range of industries and sectors, including retail, manufacturing, financial, pharmaceutical, public sector and car parks.

The company currently employs over 800 people in Ireland. It has offices in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Navan.

In addition, Nua Healthcare said it is to create 30 jobs in counties Kildare and Laois in the areas of nursing, social care and clerical support.