Donegal set to get 200 new jobs as Abbott plans expansion

DONEGAL, Ireland - As part of its planned expansion in Donegal, the U.S. healthcare group, Abbott has said that it would be adding 200 new jobs in the Irish town.

The company, which manufactures medical devices has said that it is planning a 130 million euros investment in a new facility in Donegal town.

The company’s facility in Donegal is a center of excellence for blood glucose monitoring and makes products for treating diabetes.

Abbott’s Donegal facility, the Lurganboy plant opened in 2006 and currently employs around 200 people.

According to reports, the expansion would facilitate the manufacturing of a new product and ultimately lead to the ­doubling of the Donegal workforce.

The expansion will come with an investment of between 130 million euros and 140 million euros.

Abbott has identified diabetes treatment as a growth area, due to ageing populations and rising obesity levels. 

For the third quarter of this year, the company said sales of its diabetes care products rose by almost 22 percent.

Abbott is Ireland’s most long-established multinational employers in the country and has almost 3,000 employees at nine Irish sites.