Medical claims firm to create 220 jobs in Co Galway

CIGNA Corporation, the third largest investor-owned employee benefits organisation in the US, is to expand its medical claims processing operation in Co Galway creating 220 new jobs.

Making the announcement Tánaiste Mary Harney said the expansion was welcome news for the whole of east-Galway as it would offer a wide range of quality employment opportunities to the people of the area, as well as further securing the existing jobs at the Loughrea facility and ensuring the continued success of the operation.

The Tánaiste also confirmed that due to the urgent need for extra capacity recruitment is already underway, with 50 of the new positions already filled. The new jobs will be for claims processors and administration staff, offering career opportunities to people with Leaving Certificate, Diploma and University qualifications

The Tánaiste said: "This expansion is being implemented to provide the additional capacity required to process customer claims from the US for which the Loughrea operation has won responsibility. The expansion is the result of significant efforts by the CIGNA Ireland Management team and IDA Ireland in presenting to the parent company the benefits of developing further the Loughrea facility.

"Such factors as the availability of people with the necessary qualifications, the company already having received many unsolicited applications prior to commencing recruitment, and the proven competitiveness of the Galway facility, for which the management and workforce are to be congratulated, were influential in securing the investment for Galway. This CIGNA facility is of great help to IDA Ireland as a reference in further developing international services activities in the BMW region."

The CIGNA Loughrea facility currently occupies 15,000 sq ft of a 27,000 sq ft IDA Ireland building. Under this expansion the company is to upgrade the area it currently occupies and is to lease and upgrade the remainder of the building.

The facility was established in 1990 by CIGNA HealthCare, a division of CIGNA Corporation, with the support of IDA Ireland.