THE Dublin based company Protea Pine Furniture is to create 80 jobs over the next three years at a new manufacturing plant in Claremorris, Co Mayo. The company, which employs 35 people at a smaller manufacturing and retail operation in Walkinstown, has acquired a 100,000 sq ft factory from Avonmore for an undisclosed sum and will begin production in the summer.

A spokeswoman for Protea said the company was expanding its manufacturing operation as it plans to franchise its retail business. At present, 25 per cent of Protea's products are imported, but it is hoped to dramatically reduce the level of imports with the creation of the new plant.

The current owners bought Protea from the liquidator for an undisclosed sum in January 1994, three months after its collapse.