Abbott Ireland has confirmed it is planning to expand its workforce in Donegal and create 500 new jobs.

Two hundred people are currently employed by Abbott Ireland in Lurganboy, where the company manufactures and distributes products for the treatment of diabetes.

In January 2018, Abbott Ireland was granted permission by Donegal County Council for warehouse, office and plant extensions to the existing facility at Lurganboy, totally 3,301 square metres.

A spokesperson for Abbott said: "This expansion will bring around 500 new jobs to the site over the next few years.

"We're also expanding manufacturing in the US. We are not disclosing details of the investment or the timeline, but it is a multi-year project."

Established in 2006, the Abbott Diabetic Care facility in Donegal, manufactures and distributes the worldwide supply of Abbott brands of blood glucose test strips.

Research and development is also carried out at the site.