Google Ireland Limited, the internet giant’s main Irish subsidiary, increased pre-tax profits to €47.5 million last year from €10 million in 2008.
Turnover at Google Ireland increased to ¤7.9 billion in the twelve months to the end of December 2009, up from €6.7 million the previous year.
Google's Irish operations, based on Barrow Street in Dublin, are its headquarters for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (Emea) region and provide technical, sales and operations support to customers in over 50 countries.
The Irish subsidiary spent €18.8 million on research and development in 2009, a decrease of €700,000.
Profits at Google Ireland have been retained and no dividend was paid to its ultimate parent Google Inc.