ONLINE PAYMENT company PayPal has announced it is to create at least 1,000 new jobs.

The jobs are to be created in Dundalk, and will supplement the 1,500 employed at its international headquarters at Blanchardstown.

The positions will be responsible for customer service, risk prevention, financial operations, merchant services and sales across the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region.

Recruitment for the jobs, which will require staff with fluency in European languages, will begin in the coming months with the new Dundalk Operations Centre set to begin operating in July.

The government has backed the jobs through the Industrial Development Authority. Taoiseach Enda Kenny, announcing the roles, said the jobs were “great news for Ireland and for the northeast.

“This is a great signal of confidence in Ireland and in our talented workforce.  It is a clear recognition of the opportunities that Ireland offers global leaders like PayPal.

“Our Action Plan on Jobs published last week will help to ensure that this is just the first of many similar anouncements over the coming year.”

Jobs minister Richard Bruton described PayPal as “not only a world-leading company but also an innovator which continually breaks new ground in how we do business online.”

PayPal vice-president of global operations Louise Phelan described the news as “a great day for PayPal Ireland and is truly a testament to the proven track record of our existing operation in Ireland”.

“I am very proud to support Irish job creation and look forward to working with our new teammates in Dundalk.”

IDA chief executive Barry O’Leary said the news demonstrated “that Ireland’s gateway locations provide the key skills and business infrastructure required by global leaders”.

Local TDs have welcomed the news: Fianna Fáil’s Seamus Kirk said the jobs were “a huge boost to Dundalk and the entire North East region and will have a direct benefit to the local economy”.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said the investment was “a much needed boost for the local economy which has suffered from a series of job losses in recent times and has seen a consistent increase in the number of citizens on the live register”. The county had 17,775 signing on in January.

Labour’s Gerald Nash said the “fantastic” news proved Labour’s commitment to job creation. ”This is the largest job announcement in Ireland in over five years. Paypal chose Louth because it is the best place to do business in Ireland,” he said.

“We’ve got a skilled workforce and an excellent infrastructure. I’ve no doubt that we will continue to attract additional investment to the area.”

It had been reported last year that PayPal was looking at premises in the town, as well as in Navan and Limerick, with a view to extending its Irish operations.

The Dundalk operation will be the third Irish premises opened by PayPal’s parent company eBay, which set up its Blanchardstown office in 2003.

Details of the new jobs can be foudn at the PayPal and eBay recruitment websites.