Biopharmaceutical firm Lilly to announce expansion plans for Limerick

LIMERICK is set to receive a huge boost this Monday with a biopharmaceutical company expected to announce it’s ramping up its investment in the city.

Bosses at Lilly are planning a “substantial” increase in the number of construction workers – currently 500 – at the firm’s site at Raheen Industrial Estate.

And this will come on top of up to 400 permanent staff who will work in the facility once complete.

So far, Lilly has announced a €400m investment in its facility here, with the full-time staff initially producing antibody drugs which neutralise dangerous substances in the blood.

Lilly’s job numbers in Limerick could go beyond initial projection

But well-placed sources have indicated this investment will increase, leading to a “substantial” growth in the 500 construction jobs Lilly has planned locally. It comes after Limerick City and County Council cleared the way for Lilly to start work in Raheen after approving the firm’s planning application to develop, with work kicking off on the site in November last.

Minister Simon Coveney will be in Limerick today with the company’s chief executive and chairman Dave Ricks to formally turn the sod at the complex.

Dave Riordan, the site manager for Lilly in Raheen has previously told the Limerick Leader/Limerick Live if it reaches its targets, the number of permanent staff will increase from the projected target of 400.

He said it’s hoped operations will commence in 2025 before it gets regulatory approval the following year.

The full-time jobs on offer will include roles for engineers, scientists, and operations personnel who will produce some of the most up-to-date antibodies and biologics drugs, which among other things, protect against the effects of inflammation.

“There’s been a fair bit of uncertainty lately with echnology jobs. But this demonstrates a project which is going ahead and will be a great one for the local area,” said a source.

Lilly has been operating in Ireland for over 40 years, and currently employs 2,500 staff at its manufacturing site and business services site in Kinsale and Little Island, Cork.

The Limerick investment is being backed by job creation agency, IDA Ireland.