A GALWAY medical device company says it will create 35 jobs over the next 12 months with the support of IDA Ireland.

The expansion at the CareFusion medical equipment manufacturing centre in Gort, Co Galway, has been welcomed by Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton.

CareFusion, which has its headquarters in San Diego on the US west coast, employs 90 Irish staff in manufacturing equipment used to diagnose neurological, vascular and respiratory disorders.

It took on just 12 staff when it was established in Ireland in 2006.

The firm employs more than 15,000 in more than 20 countries.

Mr Bruton said the announcement was “further confirmation that Ireland remains a key location for investments by international companies in the medical devices sector”.

“I am committed to ensuring that we continue to win even more high-value investments that will provide new high-quality jobs across the country in the coming years,” he said.

CareFusion Ireland managing director Seán Langan said the jobs would cross all areas of the business, including “production, quality and manufacturing engineering and supply chain”.

IDA Ireland chief executive Barry O’Leary said CareFusion was a “leading life sciences company with global brand recognition, and an excellent addition to the medical devices cluster” in the western region.

In a separate announcement, homecare group Hollyban Ltd, trading as Bluebird Care, has announced an increase of more than 50 per cent in its workforce.

The Dublin-based group says it will create 25 jobs over the next three months, with further growth plans anticipated for 2012. Mr Bruton made the announcement as he opened the company’s headquarters in Sandyford yesterday.

Bluebird Care provides non-medical services in the home ranging from companionship to complete personal care, predominantly catering for older people, but also for people with disabilities. The new positions will primarily be for care staff.