Amgen to Expand Dublin Workforce to 2,544 by 2030 Amidst Car Park Planning Dispute

Biopharmaceutical firm Amgen plans to significantly increase its workforce in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland, adding 728 jobs by 2030, bringing the total number of employees at its Irish base to 2,544. This expansion is coupled with a contentious planning application for a substantial increase in car parking spaces at its Pottery Road facility.

Workforce Growth and Manufacturing Capacity

According to planning documents filed with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Amgen’s Irish headcount will rise from 1,816 in 2025 to 2,544 by 2030. RTÉ reports this expansion reflects the site’s importance as one of Amgen’s largest manufacturing facilities outside of the United States. An additional 537 staff are expected to be hired by 2027, with projections indicating further growth to 2,888 employees by 2035.

The Pottery Road site plays a “critical role in the global supply of its innovative medicines,” producing treatments for conditions including cancer, autoimmune diseases, high cholesterol and rare blood diseases. Production capacity is projected to quadruple in the next three to five years, necessitating the workforce expansion.

Car Park Planning Application and Local Opposition

To accommodate the growing workforce, Amgen has applied to build 1,087 recent car parking spaces, comprising a six-story, 853-space car park and 234 surface spaces. The Irish Times reports this would bring the total number of parking spaces on site to 1,303. However, the proposal has faced opposition from local residents concerned about the scale and visual impact of the multi-story car park. Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has paused the scheme, requesting further information.

Local resident Julie Flanagan has told the council that the proposed height of the multi-storey car park is overbearing and should be significantly reduced. Flanagan suggests the council “should be encouraging companies like Amgen to support their staff to use sustainable travel to and from work, rather than facilitating their use of cars.”

Carl McEvoy has too voiced concerns to the council, stating that the car park’s scale and massing are out of character with the surrounding residential environment and would result in an unacceptable visual dominance and loss of amenity.

Financial Performance and Company Information

Amgen Technology (Ireland) UC, reported revenues of $5.62 billion (€4.85 billion) in 2024, a 41% increase. Archy Newsy notes that Amgen is currently the sponsor of the Irish Open, to be held at President Donald Trump’s Doonbeg golf resort in September.

The Pottery Road site was purchased from Pfizer in 2011 and has significantly intensified its operations through the adoption of single-use and disposable technologies, enabling multiple compact filing lines within the same campus footprint.

Amgen is targeting a reduction in the car-driver mode share to 71% by 2028, a significant reduction from its current rate.