More than 500 jobs are to be created early in the New Year in a new call centre in Shannon. GE Capital Services, a £151 billion wholly-owned subsidiary of General Electric, will employ 515 workers in the new operation in the Shannon Free Zone.

The call centre will initially augment the early stage credit collections for the company's credit card and personal loan business in Britain. These will be handled primarily through telephone call reminders and "past-due" postal messages. The project will use the most modern computer/telephony technology and is being described as a showcase in "GE's vast international organisation".

The announcement was made yesterday by the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, on her first official visit to the Shannon Free Zone. Mr Paul Sheane, chief executive of Shannon Development, said the operation would be housed in customised facilities until a new 40,000 sq ft bay was ready for occupation in early 1999.