Close to 350 new jobs for Ireland have been announced today by three separate firms
McDonald's said it is to is to invest €12 million in its Irish operation with the opening of four new restaurants this year, a move that will lead to the creation of 250 jobs.
The four new restaurants, which will be open by the end of 2010, will bring the number of McDonald's outlets to 82. Three of the new restaurants will open in the Greater Dublin area, starting with a new drive-through restaurant in Finglas and there will be one regional opening.
The 250 positions will be filled by the end of the current year, bringing the number of employees in Ireland to 3,850, up from 3,600 in 2009. Recruitment for the positions will commence in July.
The company also said it plans further new openings in 2011 and 2012.
Elsewhere, Australian firm Probiotec said today it is to establish a new European manufacturing headquarters in Dundalk, leading to the creation of 70 new jobs.
The company - which specialises in manufacturing and selling pharmaceuticals and food products, said the facility will be used to manufacture its range of dietary/meal replacement products, branded as Celebrity Slim, for the European market.
The investment is supported by the Government through Enterprise Ireland.
Making the announcement this morning, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan said the investment was "highly significant for the food sector in Ireland, which employs over 46,000 people and contributes over €8 billion in exports to the economy."
Probiotec CEO Wayne Stringer said the decision to locate the facility in Dundalk was based on Ireland’s "unrivalled reputation as a world leading centre for food ingredients excellence, the availability of excellent raw materials and top class infrastructure."
Separately, Apple reseller Compu B said it intends to create 25 new jobs in the coming weeks with the opening of a new retail store on Grafton Street.
The new store will offer a complete range of Mac computers and iPod digital music players along with accessories.
Recruitment for the positions is to begin immediately.
