A LEADING test provision company is to create 100 jobs at a new facility in Co Louth.

Prometric, a company which offers professional testing services for private and public clients, is to set up a global test development unit in Dundalk.

Recruitment is expected to begin immediately.

In a statement Prometric’s chief executive Michael Brannick said the Irisih investment “allows us to expand our employee base globally, work in closer proximity to many of our customers and to provide test development services virtually around the clock.

“Over the past several years we have made considerable investments expanding in Asia with good result. Making additional investments in Europe makes just as good business sense, as we operate a growing and global company.”

Junior minister Fergus O’Dowd, who represents Louth as a TD, said the announcement was “a vote of confidence in Ireland” and said the “high quality jobs [were] hugely significant for the North-East region.”

Local Labour TD Gerard Nash said Dundalk had suffered extensively during the financial downturn and that it was vital for the area to attract investments like that of Prometric in order to generate “high-quality jobs with a long-term future.”

Prometric already employs 75 people in Ireland, where its clients include the Road Safety Authority, who use Prometric’s services for the Driver Theory Test.

Also today, US software company Landesk said it was creating 15 jobs at a unit in the IFSC in Dublin.

IDA Ireland has been involved in both jobs announcements.