Collaboration key to Alexion’s work and to Government’s work in reducing unemployment
The Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton TD, has today (3rd April 2014) welcomed biopharmaceutical multinational Alexion’s expansion of operations in Ireland, which will create 200 new jobs at the company and a further 200 construction jobs to faciliate the expansion on a new site in Blanchardstown.
Speaking at today’s announcement, Minister Burton said: “This is a hugely significant commitment by Alexion to Ireland and is a massive and timely jobs boost for Dublin West. The company expects that this expansion will create approximately 200 new jobs at Alexion as part of a €75 million investment in this new site over the next two years. In addition to the company jobs, up to 200 new construction jobs will also be created as a result of this expansion. My Department, through its employer engagement division, stands ready to help Alexion, as with other companies around the country in this position, with its recruitment needs.”
Minister Burton was speaking with the Taoiseach, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Burton, and Alexion CEO Leonard Bell M.D. at the announcement.
With operations to serve patients in nearly 50 countries around the world, Alexion announced its decision to establish global supply chain and quality operations in Ireland in July 2013, and today the company currently employs more than 60 people at its first site in Park West. In February 2014, Alexion announced plans to acquire a second site in Athlone to create an aseptic vial fill finish facility - further enhancing its presence in Ireland and creating additional highly-skilled jobs. Today’s announcement will see Alexion develop a third site at College Park, Blanchardstown.
Alexion is focused on developing and delivering life-transforming therapies for patients with severe and life-threatening rare diseases. Collaboration in order to bring new therapies to market is key to Alexion’s critically important work. Minister Burton said collaboration was also key to creating jobs and reducing unemployment.
“The Government’s key priority is getting people back to work. Through the Action Plan for Jobs overseen by my colleague Minister Bruton, the Pathways to Work strategy overseen by my Department, and the work of State agencies such as the IDA, we are delivering on this.
“The number of people in work increased by 61,000 last year. And as seen by this week’s Live Register figures, unemployment has fallen from a crisis peak of 15.1% to 11.8% now. But that is still too high, and that is why I am absolutely determined to increase the pace of progress we are making.”
Pathways to Work complements the Action Plan for Jobs. The Action Plan is designed to accelerate the transition to a sustainable, jobs-rich economy, while Pathways aims to ensure that as many as possible of those newly created jobs go to people on the Live Register.
Alexion has been granted planning permission from Fingal County Council to construct a new 15,000 m2 laboratory, office, packaging and warehouse facility on a 41-acre greenfield site at College Park. The initial phase of the project will see the creation of approximately 200 new jobs by 2016 in Supply Chain, Quality Control Packaging, Warehousing and supporting functions. The proposed €75 million investment is also expected to create an additional 200 construction jobs over a two-year period.