RA. Pacáistí Teo. (RAP) today (Tuesday 07 October 2008) announced that it is to expand its operation at the Gaoth Dobhair Business Park with the support of Údarás na Gaeltachta. This expansion involves an overall investment of €3.3 million and the creation of up to 70 new jobs at the company’s base in Gaoth Dobhair. The Company currently employs 54 people and the announcement of this expansion will bring the total number employed at the Gaoth Dobhair Business Park to 124. The additional 70 jobs will be created over the next three years and 27 of those posts will be in place by the end of 2009.
This major investment of €3.3million will be made in both equipment and in enhancing the company’s finance and general administrative function. The investment will facilitate a major expansion of RAP’s operations which includes the launch of three new patented product lines aimed at the European food-on-the move market. These new lines will further strengthen the Company’s position within the packaging and high quality product design market in Ireland and the UK.
RAP is celebrating its 11th year of business in Gaoth Dobhair. The Company specialises in the design and manufacture of innovative, cost effective and environmentally responsible packaging solutions. RAP has sales and administration and production units in Ireland, UK, Korea, Malaysia and the US with their head office in London. The company also has agents distributing its products throughout continental Europe.
John McDermott, Operations Director at RAP commented “we’re delighted to have been able to work with Údarás na Gaeltachta to expand our facility in Donegal. This investment will have significant long-term benefits for our operation in Donegal and further secure the existing employment at the facility. Our decision was influenced by the Company’s positive experiences at the Gaoth Dobhair Business Park and we are delighted to be able to make this announcement today.”
Welcoming this announcement, Pádraig Ó hAoláin, Chief Executive of Údarás na Gaeltachta stated “Údarás na Gaeltachta is investing on an ongoing basis in top class facilities and business infrastructure across a diverse range of sectors and this is a core aspect of our enterprise promotion strategy. This announcement by RAP is very welcome news at a time of difficult national and global economic conditions. This substantial investment and these 70 new jobs are an endorsement of Údarás na Gaeltachta’s strategy of supporting new and existing innovative enterprises and thereby developing the current employment base at The Gaoth Dobhair Business Park. In the last week we have announced *126 new jobs in four companies at this Business Park, which is a significant jobs boost to this Gaeltacht area”.