British DIY retailer B&Q is to open a new store in Cork and create 100 jobs.
The new 50,000-square foot outlet is to be located at Mahon Point Retail Park.
The company, which has three stores in the Republic employing 500, says most of the positions will be filled by people from the local area. It said it has plans to open a further six stores in Ireland over the next three years.
Gerry Murphy, chief executive officer of Kingfisher, the parent company of B&Q, said: "We welcome the Government's recent review of the planning guidelines and welcome the principles of the review but it hasn't gone far enough for us in terms of making a difference for what we see as ideal for us and for our customers."
Mr Murphy said: "Our ideal solution would be to have the bigger Warehouse stores, such as Liffey Valley, in large markets such as Dublin and Cork and perhaps Galway and Limerick."