McDonald’s to create 700 jobs

McDonald’s is to create 700 jobs across the country over the next three years.

The fast food giant announced plans for a €20m investment in its Irish operations between now and the end of 2015, including the opening of 12 restaurants.

“McDonald’s is not only directly creating a very significant number of jobs inthe 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 for export,” said Junior Jobs Minister John Perry, as he opened its newest restaurant in Airside, Co Dublin, yesterday.

The new opening has created 82 positions, which brings the total employment of McDonald’s in Ireland to 4,054. The company is expected to have more than 4,700 workers on its payroll following the launch of the 12 restaurants over the next three years.

“Many of McDonald’s restaurants are operated by franchisees who are small business owners and who, working with McDonald’s, have developed successful business while creating jobs in their communities across the country,” Mr Perry said.

“The McDonald’s model offering local business people the opportunity to runtheir own business as franchisees has been very successful over the last 35 years.”

The new restaurants will be based all over the country, including locations inDublin, Kilkenny, Ballina, and Kildare Village.

Recruitment is expected to get under way in January.

Managing director ofMcDonald’s Ireland Adrian Crean said the organisationcontributes significantly to the national economy.

“This investment in our Irish operations in our 35th year of doing business here in Ireland highlights the strength of our business,” said Mr Crean.

A recent analysis by Indecon Economic Consultants found McDonald’s overallexpenditure in the Irish economy on food, restaurants, and labour last year was €283.7m.

The report found that McDonald’s spent €62.9m on staff salaries and wages in Ireland last year and its overall contribution to the exchequer was €7.2m.