50 construction jobs have been announced for Tralee in Co. Kerry.

The positions will be filled as part of the redevelopment of Bon Secours Hospital in the town.

The project announced today is the first of two phases of a major new expansion programme at the hospital which will cost over €7 million.

Phase one is expected to be completed in October while phase two which is currently at the design stage is due to start in mid-summer 2013.

The Bon Secours Health System is the largest private healthcare provider in Ireland.

Additional outpatient space

It has facilities in Cork, Dublin, Galway and Tralee.

Donna Roche is Manager at the Bon Secours Hospital Tralee.

"The need to expand has arisen over a number of years and the new development will result in the provision of additional space for the hospital’s clinical outpatient departments" she said.

Local construction company, Eamon Costello (Kerry) Limited, has been awarded the contract to carry out the work.