FIFTY jobs have been announced at a security monitoring firm based in Carlow town. Taoiseach Brian Cowen opened the headquarters and command centre of Netwatch, which provides security solutions for clients around the world.
The jobs, in operations and research and development, will be phased in over the next 18 months.
The firm, which employs 70 people in Carlow, provides “real time remote security monitoring to businesses and private residences in Ireland and internationally”.
“It’s great to see such a dynamic and energetic Irish company providing a global solution for security monitoring systems,” Mr Cowen said.
Netwatch was established in 2003 and yesterday’s announcement involves investment in research and development supported by Enterprise Ireland. The facility is in a former Irish Sugar premises and represents an investment of more than €5 million.
Mr Cowen said Netwatch was the kind of company needed to build a smart economy. Netwatch has clients in Ireland, Britain, the US, Spain and South Africa, and remotely monitors security cameras connected to its command centre in Carlow.
Managing director David Walsh said: “The new research and development centre will allow us to continue to innovate with applications and new technologies leading to better protection for our customers.”
He said the company is in “advanced negotiations” with the London Olympics to provide protection for communications infrastructure at the games.