Private health insurance firm Laya Healthcare is to create 100 jobs in Cork over the next three years.

The former Quinn Healthcare firm, which employs 343 people at its Cork headquarters, made the announcement at its official launch today.

The company is Ireland?s second largest private health insurer and has 450,000 members.

Managing director Donal Clancy said Laya would position itself as a ?key consumer champion? in the private health insurance market.

?All of us involved in the sector recognise that there are significant issues and problems which need to be resolved,? he said. ?For our part we, at Laya Healthcare, will do everything possible to ensure that our members have a strong voice from within the industry to champion their cause and to add positively to the national healthcare debate.?

Laya also announced a new cardiac screening initiative today, which will allow members from 12 years and upwards to avail of preventative screening. It was developed to help identify and prevent heart conditions at an early stage in a bid to prevent Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS).

Laya is an acronym for Looking After You Always.