Profits at the Co Clare site of pharmaceutical company Roche quadrupled to €24 million last year, helped by stronger sales to the firm's Swiss parent.
Accounts for Roche Ireland's Clarecastle facility show that it generated turnover of €146 million in 2006, up from €118 million in the previous year.
Profits were up from €6 million to €24 million, although the firm noted that the 2005 figure had been depressed by costs of €20.8 million associated with environmental works and a voluntary redundancy programme.
John Liddy, Roche Ireland managing director, said the 2006 figures reflected an underlying profit increase of 10 per cent. He described the result as "a strong performance".
Mr Liddy said the Clarecastle site had been selected in 2006 as a "strategic site" for the production of important products for the Roche group.
"We have a good performance track record, however continuous efforts are needed to meet the competitive challenges. The site has a strong skills base and employee commitment which are valuable assets to build on for the future," Mr Liddy said.
He pointed to the rising cost of manufacturing in the Republic as the biggest threat to Clarecastle's future development. Mr Liddy said the higher costs of manufacturing "are primarily driven by employee wages and pension costs, increasing energy costs and the cost of services".
