LIMERICK City and County Council’s decision to grant planning permission for a €400 million biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Raheen will facilitate a major employment boost for the region.
500 workers are expected to be employed during construction of the building for US healthcare and biopharmaceutical corporation Eli Lilly.
The new facility will expand Lilly’s manufacturing network for biologic active ingredients, support increased demand for its existing products and play a key role in bringing Lilly’s clinical pipeline to patients around the world.
The project is expected to create more than 300 new jobs for highly skilled workers such as engineers, scientists and operations personnel, who will use the latest manufacturing technology to produce life-changing treatments that patients need to address health challenges.
Welcoming the planning decision, Dave Riordan who has been appointed Site Lead for the Limerick facility, described it as a very positive milestone in Lilly’s plans to invest in Limerick.
“Having graduated from the University of Limerick myself, I am delighted that Lilly has chosen the city for this major expansion of our global manufacturing footprint. This new facility is designed to use the very latest biopharma manufacturing technology to maximise productivity and sustainability and minimise the impact on the environment.
“I am confident that Lilly’s arrival to Limerick will bring many additional benefits to the local community, the city and the region in the years ahead,” he added.
Lilly selected Limerick as the ideal location for a project of this scale as the mid-west region has excellent educational institutes, a talented workforce, and excellent transport infrastructure.
Mr Riordan said the company plans to work closely with universities and colleges of further education in Limerick and the surrounding counties to draw from the abundance of talent in the region.
