Tesco Ireland has confirmed that it is to open seven new stores and create almost 750 new jobs as part of a €113m investment in the Republic of Ireland.
The company, which already employs more than 13,000 people in Ireland, says it will create 748 new jobs over the year, the majority of which will be outside Dublin.
The new stores, creating 688 jobs, will be opened in Kinnegad, Westmeath (80 jobs), Oranmore, Galway (110), Swinford, Mayo (90), Ballybeg, Waterford (110), Thomas St, Dublin (16), Kimmage, Dublin (16) and Naas (266). The investment plan also includes a replacement store in Roscrea, Tipperary that will result in 60 additional new jobs.
The company says the new stores will come on stream over the next year, with the Tesco Express in Thomas Street in Dublin, which is already functioning, to be officially opened shortly. This will become Tesco Ireland's 120th store.
Earlier this year, Tesco Ireland said its sales fell in the year to the end of February by 7.5% to €2.9 billion, due to lower prices.
Commenting on the Tesco announcement, IFA president John Bryan said that farmers and primary producers would be paying for the new stores. He said farmers could not afford to take lower prices from Tesco, and that it was not good that one retailer in Ireland would be so dominant in the market.
130 new jobs from IT, insulation firms
IT consulting and outsourcing company Version 1 has said it plans to create 100 IT jobs over the next three years. It says the jobs will be at its Dublin headquarters, its Belfast office and a new office in Cork city.
The company's managing director Justin Keatinge said the company had performed 'very strongly' so far this year, and its profits by up by almost 50%.
Meanwhile, a home insulation company is to create 30 new jobs in Galway and Mayo over the coming months. ECOSEAL already employs 15 people at its base in Galway City. The company delivers attic and wall insulation to homes in the West of Ireland but plans to expand to other areas around the country. The 30 new jobs will be in marketing and trade.
Finally, 140 new jobs are being created in Northern Ireland with the opening of four new ‘Poundland’ stores.
Shops are to be opened in Enniskillen, Newry, Dungannon and Bangor and staff are also to be recruited for outlets in Derry and Ballymena.
