Following yesterday’s announcement that PayPal were to create a further 400 new jobs in Dundalk over the next four years, politicians and businesspeople from around the area have been busy hailing the news.
Talk of the Town has bundled their comments below.
The first to welcome the news was Labour Party Senator Mary Moran, who said: “I am delighted with the announcement that 400 new jobs will be created by PayPal in Dundalk in addition to the 1,000 jobs announced two years ago.
“This announcement will have a very positive effect for Dundalk and County Louth as a whole as it will also create hundreds of indirect ‘spin-off’ jobs in the community. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Government and in the local community to see continued investment into County Louth. I would like to wish the local team at PayPal continued success in their work over the coming years.
“Even though our economic situation has steadily improved over the course of the last few years, locally, many people are still struggling for work. From adults who have re-trained or up-skilled to improve their employment chances, to the newly graduated, highly-qualified young people pouring out of our colleges and universities, this is a very welcome announcement. Supporting the creation of jobs and the building of a sustainable economy has been a key priority for this Government since day one.”
Her comments were echoed by Fianna Fáil TD Seamus Kirk, who said the announcement was “extremely important and shows the county is a real hub for contact services jobs. The IDA has invested a lot of time and resources into promoting the North East to investors in recent years and that is really paying off.
“What we need now is a longer term strategy from the Government to ensure we have the workforce coming through with the necessary skill base to compete for these jobs in the years ahead. PayPal has fast become a household name and its presence in Dundalk is vital to the local economy.
“The Government needs to understand that there is a clear role for the State in ensuring the competitiveness of industry and this involves keeping down costs such as electricity, water and commercial rates as well as reducing red tape. The Government has not been doing enough in this regard in my view and more needs to be done to improve the conditions for existing businesses and investors.”
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams also welcomed the news, saying: ““This is a very welcome development and very good news for Dundalk and County Louth. It is evidence of the importance of the well-educated and experienced workforce that is available locally and will hopefully encourage other companies to invest in either existing companies or in new companies.”
Louth County Council chairman Oliver Tully and chief executive Joan Martin also welcomed the news.
Cllr Tully said: “”PayPal’s announcement of 400 additional positions demonstrates Louth’s suitability to this global industry and the excellent workforce our education system in the region is providing.”
Ms Martin added: “PayPal and Louth seem to be a perfect match. PayPal has the business, Louth had the location, supportive educational facilities and an eager workforce. I offer my thanks and congratulations to all who have made the announcement possible.”
Padraic White, chairman of the Louth Economic Forum, also praised PayPal for their ongoing support to the area.
“The Louth Economic Forum has maintained regular contact with PayPal, in particular around the Forum’s Education & Training Action Plan and has always been impressed with the support PayPal has shown for Louth.”
His comments were echoed by Michael Curran, Director of Cross-Border Development, Euro Relations and Sustainable Energies with Louth County Council. He said: “An additional 400 jobs for Dundalk plus the potential for 1,000 indirect jobs is fantastic news. I congratulate everybody involved on this latest announcement and look forward to seeing PayPal in Dundalk continue to go from strength to strength.”
Finally new Dundalk BIDS manager Edel O’Mahony described the announcement as a “beautiful day for Dundalk.”
She said: “Louise Phelan and PayPal are showing that their support remains with Dundalk and Dundalk BIDs will be happy to support.
“In the jobs announcement, Louise indicated that PayPal realises a further 1,000 spin-off jobs will be created in local businesses. This is a clear indication that PayPal has become a part of the Dundalk business community and is committed to building up, not only PayPal’s interests in the town but local interests.
“It is highly important that we work closely with PayPal to figure out how we are going to capitalise on the spin-off job potential for Dundalk businesses.
“I look forward to working with Louise Phelan and PayPal in the months and years to come.”
