Paypal to create 100 jobs in Dublin

Global online payments company PayPal is to create 100 new jobs at its operation in Dublin.

The new posts will be in customer service and operations at its European Centre of Excellence, which is located in Blanchardstown.

The company already employs more than 950 people at the Dublin base, an increase from the 25 it employed when the operation centre opened in 2003. The Dublin centre manages customer contact for PayPal's businesses across Europe.

Six months ago, PayPal announced an investment of €15 million to support the development of the Dublin offices into a European Centre of Excellence.

The news of the latest jobs boost was welcomed by Taoiseach Brian Cowen, who officially opened the European Centre of Excellence in March. At that event, he urged the company to seize market opportunities and widen its horizons.

"PayPal has done just that," he said. "This job announcement represents a major vote of confidence in Ireland as a location for investment."

Vice president of PayPal's European Operations Uwe Heddendorp said the firm was happy to expand its workforce in Ireland.

PayPal is predicting more than half of its growth over the next three years will come from outside the US. International business currently accounts for about 45 per cent of revenue, with the majority generated by the European market.