Johnson & Johnson is to create an additional 300 jobs in a €100 million expansion of the company’s Vision Care facilities at the National Technology Park in Limerick. The IDA Ireland-supported jobs include 100 permanent manufacturing roles, as well as 200 additional construction posts during the building of the new facility. Johnson & Johnson currently “employs around 1,000 people in Limerick at the largest contact lens manufacturing facility in the world”, IDA Ireland said. Announcing the jobs in Limerick on Monday, the Minister of State for Trade, Employment and Business, Pat Breen, welcomed “the approximately 100 jobs that will be created. It is a huge vote of confidence in the midwest region”. John Lynch, plant leader at the Limerick facility, said the company’s “aspiration is to bring improved eyesight to people around the world”. “The most important way we accomplish that is through the research, development and manufacturing of new medical device technologies.” Mr Lynch added: “We believe that the new manufacturing roles being introduced in Limerick in 2019 will be foundational in helping us bring new, innovative contact lens products to our patients and customers around the world at an industry-leading pace.” IDA Ireland chief executive Martin Shanahan said it was “a significant announcement” by Johnson & Johnson and that it represents “a considerable commitment to its Limerick operations”. “Having a company of this stature continue to expand its operations enhances Ireland’s global reputation as a medical technologies centre of excellence and demonstrates how global companies can successfully operate in regional locations.”
A further 300 jobs will be created at Johnson & Johnson's (J&J) Vision Care facilities in Limerick, as part of a €100m ($113m) expansion. The roles will include 100 permanent manufacturing posts and 200 temporary construction roles while building work is carried out at the National Technology Park. J&J's Limerick site is the largest contact lens production unit in the world, with 1,000 current employees, said IDA Ireland.