Total of 95 jobs to be created in software engineering and call centre companies

FIFTY NEW jobs have been created at software firm Synopsys in Blanchardstown, while an additional 45 jobs have been added at call centre firm Rigneydolphin in Waterford, it was announced yesterday.

US multinational Synopsys is to expand its research and development (RD) facility in west Dublin, leading to the creation of 50 high-level software and electronic engineering positions over the next four years.

The research will include the development of software and hardware for chip designers, who will use it to control and support high speeds and increasing bandwidths in computers, using nanotechnology.

The research programme is in collaboration with the department of electronic engineering and the Centre for Efficiency-Oriented Languages (Ceol) in University College Cork. It is supported by IDA Ireland.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan said the job creation was consistent with the Government's aim to develop a knowledge-based economy.

Synopsys senior vice-president Antun Domic said demand for smaller, hand-held consumer electronic devices was driving the need for technical advances in semiconductor design and manufacturing.

Synopsys, which opened its plant in Blanchardstown in 1999, last month successfully appealed a bill for more than $477 million (€356 million) from the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which had been issued after a review of transfer pricing arrangements with its Irish subsidiary.

Meanwhile, Waterford-based call centre firm Rigneydolphin has won a €2 million contract with Chorus NTL parent company UPC in a deal that will create 45 new jobs in the county.

The securing of the contract, which is designed to add sales to UPC's cable and digital TV, voice and broadband products, follows a successful run for the Rigneydolphin group, which last year opened a €5 million contact centre at the IDA Industrial Estate in Waterford. The 45 new jobs brings the total number of Rigneydolphin staff to 1,100.