Skill shortages in the construction and technology sectors pose the most difficult challenge to computer giant Intel as it embarks on the largest multinational investment in the history of the State.
An already over-extended labour market will be further stretched by the company's job creation target of an additional 1,000 employees - bringing its total workforce in Ireland to 5,400.
But the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Ms Harney, indicated yesterday that her Department would consider extending existing immigrant visa regimes.
Intel, the world's leading computer chip maker, is planning to invest $2 billion (€2 billion) in a semi-conductor manufacturing facility at its Leixlip complex within the next 15 months.
The company, which has already begun construction on the 135,000 square foot facility, is anxious there will be an adequate supply of construction workers to complete the task to deadline.
"Our greatest concern now is that we won't be constrained at the construction end by the skills shortage. We have 15 months to build and ramp this facility, which makes for a very tight and challenging schedule," the spokesman said.
Intel is currently hiring up to 40 employees a week, and in recent years has dramatically diversified its employee profile to include older workers, and employees from outside Ireland. It has also broadened its entry requirement beyond graduates with pure technology qualifications, to graduates from any discipline with a number of years work experience.
The company spokesman said the final job creation figure is likely to be well in excess of 1,000.
Once recruitment begins for the Fab 24 facility in September, Intel will come under renewed pressure to fill its employment requirement. This is likely to result in much higher training investment by the company, which has already spent $100 million training the employees for its Fab 10 facility. The company said it is now likely to spend around $150 million on training new employees over the coming 18 months.
Intel has said it would welcome any Government reform of the State's immigration policy. At present, Irish work visas are available for IT and construction professionals outside the EU who can prove they have a job offer in Ireland.
However, Ms Harney has indicated that her Department would consider extending work visas to other related sectors where there is a perceived need and justification can be shown for it.
The new plant will incorporate the production of Intel's new .13 micron process technology - a micron is approximately one-hundredth the width of a human hair. The smaller the micron process, the greater the processing power and memory that can be fitted on a silicon chip, allowing high-speed computing.
The strong global demand for Intel products has also prompted the fastest deadline for construction of an Intel fabrication plant. The previous fastest construction time was 17 months.
During the construction phase an average of more than 1,500 workers will be employed, making it the largest construction project in Ireland. It is also expected to lead to more than £350 million in locally sourced contracts.
Initially, the facility will manufacture on 200 mm silicon wafers, but will gradually transfer to the next generation of manufacturing technology on 300 mm wafers. Intel shares rose yesterday following the company's Irish announcement and after Wall Street analysts raised their forecasts for the company. Intel's stock was up $7 7/16 at $133 1/2 in afternoon trading on the Nasdaq stock market. The shares have ranged between 54 7/8 and 145 3/8 in the last year.
Lehman Bros analyst Mr Daniel Niles, who has a buy rating on Intel's stock, said in a research report that Intel could boost processor production by 10 to 15 per cent in the third and fourth quarters of the year, which would allow it to take advantage of rising prices. But the increased production would still not be enough to satisfy demand.
