Financial services firm Citi is to create 250 jobs in Dublin and Waterford within the next 18 months, bringing its staff numbers in Ireland close to 2,500.
Its expansion is backed by IDA Ireland, and grants will be given for some of the jobs being created.
Citi has had operations in Ireland for 45 years and already employs 2,200 staff here. In the past 12 months it has hired 300 staff and is now one of the biggest Ireland based international financial services companies.
The new roles, most of them in the group's global transactions division, will mainly appeal to graduates.
Ireland faced competition from other countries for these jobs, and Citi says Ireland was chosen because of the calibre of its existing employees and IDA support.
This year investment approvals secured by the IDA are at around the same level as in 2009. It says many of this year's investments would not have been won without a fall in the cost base and rising competitiveness.
Citi's announcement today demonstrates that we can out-perform rival locations for major global investments in the financial services sector because we have the talent, track record and tax regime that makes global players want to hub here,' commented the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O'Keeffe.
'Ireland's international financial services sector is recovering and in expansion mode,' said IDA Ireland chief executive Barry O'Leary.
'The growth of Citi demonstrates Ireland's continuing attractiveness as a location for foreign direct investment. The combination of talent, corporate tax, track record, technology capability and the ease of doing business positions Ireland to win further investments in international financial services,' he added.
