Intel Ireland's parent company - the giant US based Intel microprocesser business - is a quoted company trading on the NASDAQ exchange. Intel decided in 1989 to build its European operations in Leixlip, County Kildare, and formed Intel Ireland to be the holding company. The manufacturing plant was operational by 1990. To base its European operations in Ireland, Intel received over IRE£87m in grants from IDA Ireland. The plant is seen as a flagship enterprise in Ireland, symbolising the end of the chronic unemployment of the 1980s and the beginning of the Celtic Tiger boom of the 1990s.

Intel Ireland employs over 5,000 high skilled employees and its pay packets alone have contributed millions to the Irish economy, and its profits, which are taxed at 12.5%, have also contributed millions to the Irish economy. Construction of the Fab 24 manufacturing plant in the 2000s has injected millions more into the Irish economy. In all, Intel's investment in Ireland has been several billion euros. Considering that Ireland's GDP was about $100bn in 2002, Intel's investment is worth a huge amount to Ireland.

Along with the money, Intel has benefited Ireland in other ways. It has helped the IDA attract other US multinational companies to Ireland such as Google, Dell, and eBay.

See also

• List of Irish companies

External Links

• IDA Profile of Intel Ireland