OCTOBER 2008 - Jobs joy for Mid West

Amid all the post-Budget doom and gloom, the Mid West region had something to smile about this week with the news that three companies are to create over 200 new jobs in the area. Microsemi, a US-owned firm that produces equipment for America's space exploration programme, has plans to increase its Ennis-based workforce by 185 over the next two years.

The jobs have not been officially announced just yet, but Richard Finn, the firm's general manager, has made a submission to the Clare County Council seeking additional facilities as Microsemi increases its workforce "from 215 people to 400 people over the next two years". It was just last May that Microsemi reversed a decision to phase out its operations in Ennis. At that time the firm employed 108 people.

Also in the Mid West, Async Technologies, which is based in Clare, said it would be creating 11 highly-skilled jobs, while Limerick-based Avvio is poised to create 30 skilled roles over the next two years. Together, these two firms will invest EUR4 million in their expansions. Async produces a tyre management technology called 'Tyre-Check', while Avvio provides reservations software and online marketing to the hospitality industry.