Cork-based Aspira, the Irish owned enterprise technology project specialist, is to hire 50 staff after experiencing growth of 65% over the past year due to a series of new project wins. 

Aspira also announced the acquisition of an IT services and support firm, B-TEC Solutions, which it said will expand its range of products.

The company undertakes large-scale technology projects such as building database applications for corporate clients.

It said it will hire project management, business analysis and software development staff over the next 18 months for both its Dublin and Cork offices.

"The new roles we are announcing today will strengthen our delivery capability and our management team at a time when we are bolstering our service offerings, and preparing for expansion to international markets," commented the company's chief executive Pat Lucey. 

"We forecast overall sales to more than double over the next three years, with international sales growing faster again," Mr Lucey added.