Up to 1,800 jobs will be created in Swords, Co Dublin, following the opening of a new shopping centre in the town. The jobs target is expected to be met within four weeks.

The 500,000 sq ft Pavilions shopping centre, which was officially opened yesterday, cost £115 million (€146 million) to develop.

The Eircom Superannuation Fund, one of the State's largest pension funds with a total value of around £1.7 billion, funded the development.

It currently has around £650 million invested in Irish companies, Irish Government stocks and Irish forestry and property, including Eagle Star House, the Sweepstakes Centre and Liffey Valley Retail Park West.

Anchor tenants in The Pavilions centre are Dunnes Stores, occupying 95,000 sq ft on two levels, and Superquinn, which has relocated from Swords Main Street, with 50,000 sq ft. In addition, there are 53 shops with a mix of national and international tenants, including Easons, Budget Travel, Boots, Dixons and Benetton. Almost all units are now let, according to the centre's developers Flynn and O'Flaherty (Dublin) Ltd.

It is planned that the next phase of The Pavilions will provide a pedestrian route to Swords town centre, as well as a central plaza with restaurants, bars and cinemas, according to the developers.

The centre includes parking for more than 1,700 cars, with 650 surface spaces and more than 1,000 spaces in a multi-storey car park. Special parking facilities are also provided for parents shopping with children, according to the developers. The centre also includes a supervised play area.

The centre was built by John Sisk & Son, and more than 700 construction jobs were created during its development.