TAOISEACH Micheál Martin is in Tralee today to attend the official opening of a company’s new offices where 280 new jobs will be created.

RelateCare is an Irish healthcare communications consultancy and outsourcing organisation and the first of 30 jobs have been filled at the offices located in the campus of the Munster Technological University.

A further 250 management executives, support-function staff and front-line access-to-care staff are to be recruited as part of RelateCare’s ongoing expansion plans, supported by Enterprise Ireland.

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Part of the Akusus Group, which includes Rigneydolphin, the company also recently appointed healthcare and life-sciences expert Liz Shanahan as its Chairperson. Shanahan is a Castleisland native and was chosen as the 2017 Person of the Year by the Kerry Association London.

The Taoiseach Micheál Martin T.D., said: “This is very welcome news for both Kerry and Ireland, and another important milestone in the journey of RelateCare. Today’s announcement and the jobs that will accompany it are also a clear demonstration of RelateCare’s commitment to Tralee, the strength of the regional economy, and to the breadth of talent that is on offer here.”

Chief Executive of Tralee Chamber Alliance, Colette O’Connor said; “On behalf of the Chamber I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome Relatecare to Tralee and we are very much looking forward to supporting them as they get off the ground.

“Former CEO of Tralee Chamber Ken Tobin and his HQ Kerry business partner Tom O’Leary were instrumental in bringing this company into Tralee. Amidst strong competition from other locations including Kilkenny, it was the drive of local business people and the facilities at MTU, particularly around nursing and hospitality where customer service is key and that helped to confirm Tralee as the prime location for setup.”

“This is a fantastic show of confidence in Tralee as a location for investment and innovation and we look forward to further announcements in the not too distant future,” she said.

The Tralee site will support several blue-chip US healthcare clients, with administrative and clinical support services covering access to care activities and post discharge management.

The hub is also in the process of building teams to support Irish clients, and RelateCare will leverage its proximity to the Corca Dhuibhne Gaeltacht to expand its Irish-speaking employee base.