Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar have welcomed news that leading global healthcare company Abbott is to construct a new greenfield manufacturing facility in Kilkenny and further invest in its Donegal Diabetes Care site, representing a combined investment of €440 million and creating 1,000 jobs between the two sites.

The new 250,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, which will be located on the IDA Business and Technology Park in Loughboy, Kilkenny, subject to planning permission, will give Abbott the capacity to substantially increase production of its FreeStyle Libre technology for people with diabetes. The project is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland.

Speaking last week, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said, "This new investment by Abbott in Donegal and Kilkenny is hugely welcome news, bringing up to 1,000 highly-skilled jobs and expanded Medtech manufacturing capacity. Abbott has a long and successful history, first establishing operations in Ireland in 1946, and this new investment is a great vote of confidence in the workforce here, and in this country as a place to invest. I wish all the team at Abbott every continued success in its endeavours in the years to come."

IDA Ireland Executive Director, Mary Buckley added, "Abbott has had a longstanding presence in Ireland spanning over 75 years during which the company has made a substantial and valued contribution to regional economies. This significant and transformative investment in a new greenfield manufacturing facility in Kilkenny is fantastic news for the South East Region and for Ireland. It is also most welcome and demonstrates continued commitment to its Donegal site that it will benefit from further investment and new jobs as part of this investment and jobs announcement."

Source: www.businessworld.ie