INTERNET SECURITY firm Symantec is to create 60 jobs at its European headquarters in west Dublin. The company, which produces a broad range of anti-virus and security software, already employs 725 staff at its Ballycoolin facility in Blanchardstown.
The new jobs come as part of an IDA-backed investment in its “authentication services” business, and follows the company’s acquisition of payments protection firm VeriSign last year.
The 60-strong team will be tasked with developing Symantec’s identity and authentication software as well as operating technical support and client services.
According to accounts for last year, the numbers employed by Symantec during 2010 decreased by 138 from 863 to 725.
Symantec chief executive Enrique Salem said yesterday authentication services were now regarded as a key growth area for the company.
“The decision to locate this investment in Dublin comes as a result of the success to date of Symantec in Ireland.”
Welcoming the announcement, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton said: “A significant part of the real Irish economic miracle in the mid/late 1990s was our ability to tap into the global IT boom that was going on at that time.
“If we are to get growth in employment and in the economy again, one part of that will involve relying on our traditional strengths, and today’s announcement is a great vote of confidence in our policies.”
ICT Ireland, the Ibec group that represents the high-tech sector, also welcomed the announcement, saying it reaffirmed the strength of the technology sector in Ireland.
“With nine of the top 10 global technology firms having a significant presence here and exports of over €50 billion per annum, Ireland remains a prime location for technology investment,” said ICT Ireland director Paul Sweetman.
The president of the Dublin 15 Chamber of Commerce, David Donnelly, said the move reinforced “Ireland as being very well positioned for foreign direct investment and why it so important to maintain our corporation tax rate at 12.5 per cent”.
The Irish arm of Symantec returned a pretax profit of €73 million last year despite seeing revenues decline by 8 per cent, from €1.48 billion to €1.36 billion year-on-year.
