An overview of the week in deals in the Irish technology sector.
Deloitte expands with Curach acquisition
Business advisory firm Deloitte has acquired Irish consultancy Curach Consulting for an undisclosed sum. The move will expand Deloitte’s 300-strong workforce with an additional 70 professionals.
Curach Consulting, which has an annual turnover of €7m, provides business advisory, delivery and diagnostic services to a range of significant blue-chip clients across a number of sectors, particularly the financial services, technology and public sectors.
The deal will see Curach’s entire workforce of 70 join Deloitte Ireland’s 300 strong consulting and advisory practice. David Dalton, the managing director of Curach, will join Deloitte as a partner. Bruce Curtis, head of IT consulting at Curach, will join Deloitte as director of technology integration services.
Curach’s combination with Deloitte will lead to one of the largest teams of consultants and IT professionals focused on the Irish and financial services marketplace.
Bórd na Móna secures planning to build 120MW Offaly wind farm
Mountlucas Wind Farm is set to have a generating capacity of 80MW, with construction taking place over 18-24 months and employing up to 30 people during the build.
Bórd na Móna, which has been diversifying its energy portfolio beyond its traditional peat-based business of late, has welcomed the decision by An Bord Pleanála.
The construction of the project is expected to cost in the region of €120m, employing up to 30 people during the peak of the building phase. Once complete, Mountlucas Wind Farm is expected to generate enough electricity to supply the needs of about 45,000 homes, while preventing 125,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases emissions each year.
The company has now applied to EirGrid for the connection of the wind farm to the national grid.
According to Bórd na Móna, Mountlucas Wind Farm will play its role in improving the geographical distribution of wind energy facilities nationally, contributing to a more balanced input of wind energy to the grid.
