Facebook is close to a deal to lease enough extra office space to add 1,000 staff in Dublin, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Billionaire Mark Zuckerberg's social network plans to lease a 110,000 sq ft (10,220 sq m) building in Dublin's north docks owned by the Comer brothers. The property is between East Point Business Park, where Google and Cisco Systems lease offices, and The Point Village, where Yahoo! occupies space.

Facebook already has its European headquarters in Dublin, with around 1,500 staff at its offices in Grand Canal Square in the south docks. The cool, modern, building was designed by Daniel Libeskind with interiors by Frank Gehry. Facebook moved in after outgrowing a previous building nearby.

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It wants additional office space in Dublin in order to expand operations but has yet to commit to a location, a spokesman for the firm said. The Comer Group did not reply to requests for comment.

In January, landlord Great Portland Estates said Facebook had opted against using an option to expand its major UK office on Oxford Street in London. (Bloomberg)

Irish Independent