McDonald’s will open 12 new restaurants and create 700 jobs in Ireland by the end of 2015.

The restaurants will be based nationwide, including Dublin, with a number of sites still to be decided. Recruitment for the roles will commence in January 2013 via the company’s website.

McDonald’s currently employs 4,054 people in Dublin. Minister of state for small business John Perry says: “McDonald’s is not only creating a significant number of jobs in the food service industry, it is also helping to secure jobs and create employment indirectly through the Irish goods and services it purchases for domestic use and export.” 

According to independent analysis by Indecon International Economic Consultants, the company’s overall expenditure in the Irish economy on food, restaurants and labour costs amounted to €283.7m (£227.1m) in 2011, over a fifth of which was on staff pay.