German software giant SAP is to expand its operation in the Republic with the creation of 350 new jobs.
The company, which is one of world's leading suppliers of business software, is to establish a global technical support centre in Galway with the support of the IDA.
SAP's existing operation in the Republic already employs 310 people in Dublin's Citywest Business Park.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Mary Harney, said the announcement consolidates recent successes of IDA Ireland.
In the first three months of this year fourteen new IDA-supported investments, totalling in excess of €220 million and creating over 3,000 new jobs, have been announced, Ms Harney said.
"This level of achievement continues the surge in new investments secured by IDA Ireland between September and December 2002, when fifteen new projects, creating 2,300 new jobs, were announced," the Tánaiste said.
The company has already employed 40 people to run a temporary office in Galway. The rest of the 350 will be taken on over the next four years.
The company is to locate temporarily in premises, which it is leasing at IDA's Mervue Business Park, to enable start-up to commence immediately.
The company said it had decided to expand its operation in the Republic because Galway proved to have the highest calibre of support staff available.
It said: "This will increase the strategic importance of the company's Irish operations within SAP globally."
SAP is headquartered in Walldorf, Germany and employs 28,797 people in more than 50 countries.
