Major Investment For Galway Scientific Plant

The Tánaiste has today announced a €91 million investment for a Galway science company.

Announcing the move, Mary Coughlan revealed that Boston Scientific, which specialises in medical devices for use in surgical procedures, is to invest a further €91 million in a Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) initiative at its site in Galway, with the support of Government through IDA Ireland.

The investment is hoped to create 45 new high calibre jobs, allowing BSC Galway to take "a major step-up in technology, scale and technical innovation", the Tánaiste said.

Radically changing the workings at the plant, the investment will move BSC Galway's Research focus rom late stage development to an earlier innovative stage, with employee skills changing in tandem and leading to new pioneering technology created in the West of Ireland.

An Tánaiste said: "Boston Scientific employs approximately 5,000 people in Ireland, 3000 of which are located in Galway. This investment by BSC, a renowned global corporation and a reference life science company in Ireland, is an enormous boost of confidence in Ireland's RD&I abilities."

Earlier this year, the company announced it would close its Donegal facility in 2010, with manufacturing moving to Galway.

Boston Scientific Senior Vice President Hank Kucheman, however, highlighted the successful performance of the Galway plant.

Mr Kucheman said: "We are pleased to make this strategic investment in Ireland, which builds on our positive and long established presence here and further demonstrates our commitment to the country.

"The performance and success of our Galway site, the high calibre of talented people in Ireland and the country's commitment to RD&I, particularly through the innovative approaches of both the Government and IDA Ireland, gave us confidence that this was the correct setting for this important investment."

(DW/BMcC)