Intel expansion plans for its European manufacturing base in Leixlip, County Kildare, has included what is described as the largest single investment in the history of the Irish state. Including a $500 million (€363 million) investment from 2011, Intel has invested $5 billion (€3.63 billion) in an upgrade project over three years that will allow the Leixlip campus to become a high volume site for the company’s latest leading edge manufacturing process, beginning in 2015.
According to Intel, the project has created 5,000 additional indirect jobs in planning and construction, as well as the 4,500 Intel jobs on the campus.
The project plans were detailed as part of the celebrations of Intel’s 25th anniversary in Ireland, attended by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD and An Tánaiste, Eamon Gilmore TD, and the .
“I am delighted to join with Intel on the occasion of their 25th anniversary to welcome the latest news of their ongoing expansion here in Leixlip,” said An Taoiseach.
“The expansion, which began in 2011 has resulted in an investment in Ireland totalling $5 billion to date and represents the largest private investment in Ireland in the history of the State.
“The Government’s top priority is to get Ireland working and I welcome that this investment will sustain 5,000 additional, indirect jobs through the completion of the construction phase in 2015 while securing the 4,500 existing jobs at the Leixlip facility into the medium term.
“At a time of continuing high unemployment, this is a huge boost not just to the Greater Dublin Area but to the entire Irish economy, and particularly to the construction sector.
“I would like to acknowledge the massive contribution of Intel to Ireland, both in economic terms and for sending out a signal to the world of Ireland’s attractiveness as a place for big investment.”
“I would like to congratulate the management and staff of Intel Ireland,” said An Tánaiste, “on the announcement today of the $5 billion investment made in its operation in Leixlip.
“This significant investment is not only a vote of confidence in the talent and the performance of the team here, but also in Ireland, in its recovery, and in its future.
“As a Government, our number one priority is growing not just jobs, but good quality jobs, in our economy.
“Intel’s investment, the 5,000 indirect construction jobs it has generated, and 4,500 existing jobs it secures, is a concrete and positive contribution to that objective.”
Intel President Renée James was also present at the ceremony, and thanked the Government for its partnership.
“I would like to thank the Irish government for its outstanding business partnership with Intel over the past 25 years.
“The combination of the pro-business environment which the Irish government has created together with this investment of $5.0 billion in Intel Ireland have resulted in the creation of a technology campus in Leixlip that is now readying itself to produce some of our most advanced products”.
“With this latest investment in the Intel Ireland facilities,” said Eamonn Sinnott, general manager, Intel Ireland, “the cumulative capital investment by Intel in Ireland has risen to $12.5 billion (€9 billion). I am incredibly proud of all the Intel Ireland employees, who have shown great flexibility, capability and dedication to make this incredible achievement possible.”
“Intel is a globally iconic name that has invested in Ireland for 25 years now,” said Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton TD, “and over those years it has become truly embedded in both our economy and our society which is confirmed by the fact that there are more Intel ‘alumni’ working elsewhere in the Irish economy than are currently based in Kildare.”
The investment was welcomed by the IDA.
“Intel is behind the biggest investment in the history of the State at Leixlip and the scale of its operations there continue to develop,” said Barry O’Leary, chief executive, IDA Ireland. “The future is bright for the company and the facility, and it is in a strong position to take on future capacity in the years ahead, helping to underpin the existing operations, which employ 4,500 people.”
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