The Irish Government today promised 60 "high end" jobs in Donegal -  - "high end" is added to a lexicon for research jobs that includes "quality jobs" and "high value jobs."

This area continues to be one where public spending gets priority even though there is little credible performance data published.

Richard Bruton TD, enterprise minister, announced that preparatory work has commenced for the construction of a new 20,000 sq ft Science Park building, at Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT), representing an investment of €4.5m.

He said the new facility will enhance the development of Science, Research and Innovation in the North West region. The initiative, in tandem with a similar facility in Derry City, is a cross border project, co-funded by the EU’s Regional Development Fund through the Interreg IVA Programme, by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and by the Northern Ireland Department of Finance and Personnel.

It is intended that the new facility in Letterkenny will provide 13 new business Units and significant research space. "The target is that it will support over 60 high-end jobs. It is also hoped to develop 3 cross border clusters (involving Enterprise Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland) and that the facility will help secure one additional FDI project into the North West each year."