A US health care company has announced the creation of 250 new jobs in Ballina, Co Mayo.
The high-end manufacturing jobs will come as part of a €65 million expansion to the Hollister Ireland plant in the town.
Up to 200 other jobs are expected to be generated during the construction of the 75,000sq/ft extension due to be completed by the end of next year.
The company currently employs 330 people in the Co Mayo plant involved in the manufacturing and distribution of ostomy and continence care products for the global market.
The recruitment process has already begun for staff in product development, engineering, quality and supervisory roles to support the expansion and Hollister said it will continue to recruit over a three-to-five year period when construction work is finished.
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe said the expansion plan would have an “enormous economic impact on the west of Ireland”.
“Hollister has been part of the business community in Ballina for almost 35 years, contributing more than €52 million annually to the Irish economy including €40 million spent on salaries and materials sourced locally in the west of Ireland,” he added.
Hollister Ireland is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hollister Incorporated whose global headquarters are in Libertyville, Illinois. The investment in Ballina has been supported by the Government through IDA Ireland.