Fast-food chain McDonald’s is to add 12 new stores to its Irish network and appoint 700 staff before the end of 2015.

The development was announced yesterday at the opening of a new McDonald’s outlet in Airside, Co Dublin, by Minister for State for Enterprise John Perry.

“The McDonald’s model offering local businesspeople the opportunity to run their own business as franchisees has been very successful over the last 35 years,” he said.

The opening of the new outlet has created 82 positions. McDonald’s says the total number of people it employs in the State is 4,054.

McDonald’s says other outlets will open in Dublin, Kilkenny, Ballina and Kildare while other sites are under consideration. Recruitment for the 700 positions is expected to get under way in January.

Sales at McDonald’s Ireland rose by 3.3 per cent to €209 million last year. Analysis by Indecon Economic Consultants has found McDonald’s overall spend in the Irish economy on food, restaurants and labour last year was €283.7 million.