More than 300 jobs have been created with the opening of three Tesco supermarkets, the retailer said today.
The new stores in Swinford in Mayo, Oranmore in Galway and Ballybeg in Waterford will employ 310 staff between them.
The chain said another 15 jobs will be created when a Tesco Express Store opens in Newcastle in Galway city next week.
Tony Keohane, chief executive of Tesco Ireland, said the jobs will provide a vital boost to employment in each of the areas.
“The new stores will play an important role in helping consumers at the three locations to shop locally rather than travelling long distances for their regular family shopping,” he added.
Tesco said it is investing €113 million in its operations in the Republic this year and next, with the overall creation of 748 jobs, already announced.
Elsewhere, Gift Voucher Shop (GVS), the company behind the multi-store One4all Gift Card and Voucher, has employed 54 additional staff in the run-up to Christmas.
The new recruits, which include full- and part-time workers, will more than double the company’s existing staff base of 52.
The majority will be based in Swords, north Dublin, and will be employed in customer service, accounts, corporate sales, promotions and marketing.
In addition, GVS has outsourced its UK call centre activity to Waterford-based Rigney Dolphin.
Michael Dawson, at the Gift Voucher Shop, said: “Creating jobs and keeping them in Ireland will be pivotal to economic recovery in the months ahead.”