The Square Centre in Tallaght, Dublin 24, is set to get a major boost with plans to upgrade and reopen the cinema complex which has been closed for about 18 months.

Leading cinema chain IMC, owned by the Ward family, is to spend in excess of € 6 million on enhanced stadium-style seating, the latest digital projection facilities and digital surround-sound and in turn create 35 construction jobs.

Five of the 13 screens will be equipped with the full 3D experience when the 2,200 seater cinema complex reopens for business early in 2012.

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The new 15-year lease of the 5,574sq m (60,000sq ft) complex is understood to include an initial base rent of over €1 million as well as a percentage of turnover.

Karl Stewart of DTZ Sherry FitzGerald handled the letting for Noel Smyth’s Alburn company which holds the largest stake in The Square.

The refurbishment programme is to start immediately with 35 staff to be engaged to carry out the work over a five month period. An additional 60 full- and part-time staff positions will be created once the cinema reopens.

Eamon Furlong, centre director at The Square, said that when they first opened the multiplex cinema in 1988 it was the largest cinema complex in the country. He said he was confident that, following the investment by IMC, they would once again be at the cutting edge of delivering the best cinema experience in Ireland.

(LB)