Galway city and county received a substantial jobs boost on Monday, with the announcement of two separate expansions by Minister Micheál Martin.

Green Isle Foods Ltd announced the creation of 70 new jobs as part of a €5.2 million investment in new job creation, training and management development.

With support from Enterprise Ireland, the investment will lead to the creation of 70 new jobs over the next three years at its frozen pastry business, based in Portumna, Co. Galway. These jobs are comprised of direct production, production management and support roles.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin, made the announcement during a visit to Portumna on Monday.

In a separate move, 19 new jobs were announced for the Thermo King plant in Galway city. Thermo King, a market leader in the design and manufacture of transport refrigeration equipment, is to undertake highly innovative research and design work on the next generation of environmentally friendly products at its long-established Galway facility, with the support of IDA Ireland. This will add 19 new positions at the Galway site, in both R&D and operations. The Galway site is Thermo King's largest European facility.

Both announcements were welcomed by Minister of State Micheál Kitt, who said a "This is a welcomed boost for East Galway where great efforts have being made to improve the economic situation for the residents in Galway and its environs. It is also beneficial to the many new developments that have been initiated in the area to develop tourism generally in our economy."

The Green Isle announcement comes as a result of the recent acquisition of the business and certain assets of the RHM Frozen Pastry business in the UK from Premier Foods Ltd by Green Isle Foods. The acquisition includes well known RHM pastry brands including the Upper Crust and Tiffany brands, as well as the licence to produce frozen pastry products under the McDougalls brand.