Hewlett Packard's turnover in Ireland has increased by 55 per cent to £25 million in the six months to the end of April, writes Paul O'Kane.

The company, which is to create 1,150 new jobs over the next three years at its new printer cartridge factory in Leixlip, Co Kildare, said that turnover here had doubled during the past two years.

Construction at Leixlip is well under way and the company has already recruited 280 people to work in a temporary facility in Blanchardstown.

Meanwhile, the company has announced a 25 per cent increase in its worldwide profits for the second quarter.

After tax profits were up 25 per cent from $577 million (£370 million) to $723 million while turnover rose by 33 per cent from $7.43 billion to $9.88 billion. The results were boosted by excellent computer sales, which increased by 29 per cent to $8.4 billion, the company said in a statement.