An American drug company is to create 300 new jobs in Limerick as part of a €217 million investment.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is taking over the site of the former Dell factory at the Raheen Business Park in Limerick, which closed in 2009.
If the company secures planning permission to transform the 12 acre site, construction on the new state of the art bio plant will begin next year, employing 600 builders on the project.
Regeneron said it hopes to have its new campus open in 2016 and will be hiring scientists, engineers, technicians and administrative staff.
The planning application will outline the refurbishment of existing buildings on the site, which has been vacant for five years.
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Minister for Jobs & Enterprise Richard Bruton, and Limerick City TD & Finance Minister Michael Noonan have both welcomed the announcement.
Daniel Van Plew, Regeneron’s Senior Vice President & General Managerof Industrial Operations and Product Supply said Limerick would become the company's second industrial production site, allowing them to expand manufacturing capacity into Europe, and the international market.
Van Plew added "We hope to work with the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research & Training and are already in discussions with the universities and colleges in Limerick about future possibilities. We see Limerick as a good place to do business – the area has excellent educational institutes, a strong community spirit and a solid transport infrastructure."
Welcoming the announcement, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, TD said Regeneron's announcement brings to nine the number of top ten global BioPharma companies to locate major facilities in Ireland.
And Limerick TD Michael Noonan welcomed the company to his constituency, saying it was great news for the local economy. "The company is making a major commitment to Ireland by refurbishing an unoccupied facility in Raheen Business Park, creating a substantial number of both construction and long-term permanent jobs", he said
