Global healthcare giant Abbott has unveiled plans to create 1,000 jobs in Donegal and Kilkenny. in an investment worth €440m.

This 250,000 sq ft facility will be located at the IDA business and technology company in Loughboy, Kilkenny, subject to planning permission.

The Kilkenny site will provide Abbott with the capacity to increase the production of its FreeStyle Libre technology which is used by people with diabetes.

As well as the construction of the new facility, the company announced that it also plans a further investment in its existing Irish diabetes care site which is located in Donegal.

A spokesperson from Abbott said: “Abbott is expanding our Irish manufacturing operations to meet demand for our FreeStyle Libre technology for people with diabetes, which over the past five years has grown from 400,000 to more than 4 million users.”

"People who use the FreeStyle Libre portfolio call it life-changing, and this investment will allow us to make even more of it in Ireland to meet growing demand,” the spokesperson added.

Abbott has been operating in Ireland since 1946. The multinational medical devices and healthcare company currently employs over 5,000 people across nine sites across the country.

It also has operations in Clonmel, Cootehill, Donegal, Longford and Sligo.

“Abbott has had a presence in Ireland for more than 75 years, and we’re proud to bring even more highly-skilled jobs to local communities,” the spokesperson concluded.

The new investment is supported by IDA Ireland.