Communications Minister Eamon Ryan has announced plans which target the creation of up to 30,000 jobs over the next decade in digital and clean technology.
The first measure will see 50 jobs created in the next year, followed by another 300 within three years, as Irish company Intune Networks builds a new communications network which will cut down bottlenecks in data transfer.
The Government is also planning to establish an International Content Services Centre in Dublin, and a Marine Research, Test and Development Platform in Galway Bay.
Minister Ryan says the content centre is modelled on the International Financial Services Centre, and is aimed at harnessing skills in areas such as film, games, music and animation. The Government says such a centre has the potential to create up to 10,000 new jobs, while plans for new 'green' data storage will also add 10,000 jobs.
The Galway Bay project will link surface and underwater sensors and networks to enable environmental research.
Intune system uses laser technology
The Intune jobs will come as a result of a plan to develop what is being called an Examplar Smart Network using Intune's technology.
Trials of the new network are expected to start early next year with the first phase in operation before the end of next year.
Intune has developed a programmable fibre optic platform, using laser technology, which it says uses up to 75% less energy than today's networks. The company says the system was developed to cope with growing amounts of data and video traffic on the internet and allows for greater speeds and higher quality interactive services.
Intune already employs 100 people in Dublin and Belfast.
