Healthcare company Abbott is to invest a total of €440m in a new greenfield factory in Kilkenny and expansion at its Donegal diabetes care site and will add 1,000 staff at both locations.

The new 250,000 sq ft manufacturing facility will be “state-of-the-art,” said Abbott, and will be located on the IDA Business and Technology Park in Loughboy, Kilkenny, subject to planning permission. It will allow Abbott to substantially increase production of its FreeStyle Libre technology for people with diabetes.

The government and IDA Ireland, which financially supports the projects, welcomed the news.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “This new investment by Abbott in Donegal and Kilkenny is hugely welcome news, bringing up to 1,000 highly-skilled jobs and expanded medtech manufacturing capacity.

“Abbott has a long and successful history, first establishing operations in Ireland in 1946, and this new investment is a great vote of confidence in the workforce here, and in this country as a place to invest. I wish all the team at Abbott every continued success in its endeavours in the years to come.”

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IDA chief executive Mary Buckley added: “This significant and transformative investment in a new greenfield manufacturing facility in Kilkenny is fantastic news for the South East Region and for Ireland. It is also most welcome and demonstrates continued commitment to its Donegal site that it will benefit from further investment and new jobs.

“This new manufacturing facility will deliver a substantial boost to the economy of the South East. I wish the company continued success.”