248 jobs are to be created in both Limerick and Shannon as a result of expansions by five companies in the region.
The largest announcement is at ACI Worldwide - a US company which provides software for electronic payment systems.
100 jobs are to be created with the establishment of a new global technical resource centre in Limerick.
The Danish company Rovsing A/S is to employ 30 highly-skilled software engineers who will carry out contract work for agencies like the European Space Agency.
And 21 positions are to be created over the next three years with the establishment of AR Europe Limited, which develops, manufactures and distributes high-powered broadband radio frequency amplifiers.
All the companies are to be based at the technology park at Plassey, and are IDA supported projects.
New firms in Shannon
Two new companies are to be set up at the Shannon Free Zone, which between them will employ 97 people.
52 jobs will be at the White Horse Insurance Ireland company, a wholly owned subsidiary of the global MyTravel Group which manages package and leisure holiday services.
A further 45 jobs are to be established at PC Tools Software, an Australian company which develops security and system software to help prevent new computer viruses.
The Shannon base will serve as its European headquarters and finance shared service centre in Ireland.
These investments are being supported by Shannon Development.
Making the announcement in Limerick, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin, said the new companies will offer high quality employment opportunities particularly in the research and development areas, and there was considerable competition across Europe for these investments.
Minister of State Tony Killeen, who made the jobs announcements in Shannon, said it was a wonderful vote of confidence in the Shannon Free Zone that two world class companies had decided to locate there.
