Intel has announced a €5 billion investment in its manufacturing campus in Leixlip, Co Kildare, marking one of the company’s largest commitments in Ireland as demand for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing continues to grow.
The investment will expand production capacity by upgrading existing fabrication facilities and installing advanced manufacturing equipment rather than constructing new factories. Intel said the expansion programme began earlier this year and is expected to be completed by the end of next year.
The project is also expected to create several hundred permanent jobs at the Leixlip campus, while supporting thousands of construction positions during the upgrade. Intel currently employs around 4,900 people in Ireland and has invested more than €30 billion in the country since establishing operations there in 1989.
Naga Chandrasekaran, Intel’s Executive Vice President, Chief Technology and Operations Officer, and General Manager of Intel Foundry, described the investment as a major step in expanding the company’s manufacturing capabilities.
“This €5 billion investment represents a definitive commitment to maximize capacity at our Leixlip campus and increase what we can deliver to Intel Foundry customers,” Chandrasekaran said.
He added that upgrading the existing fabrication plants with advanced technology and new production tools would boost output of products such as Xeon 6 processors and future generations of Intel Xeon chips built on the Intel 3 manufacturing process. The investment, he said, will also strengthen Ireland’s position as a leading centre for advanced semiconductor manufacturing.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin welcomed the announcement, calling it a strong endorsement of Ireland’s technology sector and skilled workforce.
“At a time of rapid technological change and global competition, this expansion strengthens Ireland’s role in securing resilient semiconductor supply chains and reinforces our ambition to remain a global leader in innovation, productivity and sustainable economic growth,” Martin said.
IDA Ireland Chief Executive Michael Lohan said the project highlights the country’s attractive business environment, highly skilled workforce and growing reputation in advanced chip manufacturing. He said the investment will support both European competitiveness and more resilient global semiconductor supply chains.
The announcement marks a significant turnaround for Intel after a difficult period. In June last year, the company informed the Irish Government that up to 195 employees at the Leixlip facility could face compulsory redundancies following plans to reduce its global workforce by 20%.
Intel had struggled to keep pace with competitors in the rapidly expanding AI chip market but has made notable progress over the past year. In August 2025, the US government acquired a 10% stake in the company, followed by a series of major commercial agreements involving Nvidia, Apple and Tesla that helped strengthen Intel’s position in AI computing and data centre products.
Earlier this year, Intel also agreed to repurchase a 49% stake in the joint venture linked to its Fab 34 manufacturing facility in Leixlip for $14.2 billion. The stake had been sold to Apollo Global Management in June 2024 for $11.2 billion, reflecting the company’s renewed focus on expanding its manufacturing operations and supporting future growth in the semiconductor industry.
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