The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, has announced plans to create 184 new jobs in Cork, Louth and Wexford. Three proposals have been agreed with IDA Ireland to create 97 jobs at Tytex Ireland in Youghal, Co Cork, 45 at The Kinetics Group in Mountrath, Co Laois and a further 42 jobs through an expansion at Snap-tite in Wexford town.

Tytex is an international healthcare company specialising in disposable medical dressings, bandages and incontinence products. The additional 97 new jobs at the company will bring its total workforce to almost 200 within five years. In Mountrath, Ms Harney said 45 new jobs would be created within three years as part of a £1.2 million investment programme agreed between The Kinetics Group and IDA Ireland. The company provides high purity and validated process piping systems to the semiconductor, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

Meanwhile the US-owned Snaptite group, which manufactures fluid power products used in the oil industry, aerospace and agriculture sector and in fire fighting, would create 42 new jobs over the next three years. The additional jobs would come on stream as part of a £2.7 million investment at a new premises nearby in Wexford.

Announcing the proposed new jobs yesterday, Ms Harney said she would be encouraging new projects to set up throughout the Republic.