SOME 55 jobs are to be created at two companies in Tralee, Co Kerry.

Wind-turbine group Enercon announced plans to double its Irish workforce to 60, while internet web-designer Straker is creating 25 jobs at a new European headquarters in the town.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation Batt O’Keeffe welcomed the decision by New Zealand firm Straker to establish its European headquarters at Kerry Technology Park, alongside Tralee Institute of Technology, as a vote of confidence in Ireland’s reputation as a smart economy.

He said the creation of high-tech jobs by Enercon “reflects Ireland’s reputation as a major hub for investment in the rapidly developing clean technology sector”.

Enercon is to create 30 jobs in technical services and management in Tralee over two years at Enercon Windfarmservice Ireland.

The company entered the Irish market in 1998 and employs 30 technicians to maintain and service its equipment.

Yesterday’s announcement will see the company create an Irish headquarters in order to service Ireland and Britain, creating employment opportunities in technical and management roles.

Enercon, founded in 1984 in Germany, is a privately-held company employing more than 12,000 people worldwide. It manufactures all turbine components and is one of the largest players in that industry worldwide.

The company has installed 197 turbines in Ireland that can generate 290MW. Its concentrations of turbines are in Kerry, Wexford and Donegal.

There has been a broad welcome for the announcement in Tralee, where the IDA has been strongly criticised for its failure to bring jobs to the Kerry capital.

The jobs at Straker are in multilingual web design. The company will also enter into a research and development partnership with IT Tralee.