300 new jobs for Dundrum

Minister for Jobs and Enterprise Richard Bruton has announced the creation of 300 new full-time and part-time jobs at Dundrum Town Centre.

The jobs will come with the arrival of a number of new companies and the expansion of others already at the south Dublin centre and will bring the number of employees at the complex to almost 6,000.

US clothing company Hollister, part of the Abercrombie and Fitch Corporation, and the popular Asian restaurant chain Wagamama, are to open branches at the centre. Both are due to open in July.

Three Irish-owned companies - Bella Baby, Giddy Studios and Rainbow Ice Cream - have already opened at the centre this year, while The Port House and Pink Beauty Emporium are set to expand their current operations.

Mr Bruton said the development was "great news and a very welcome vote of confidence" for the retail sector and the domestic economy generally at a very difficult time.

“Dundrum is a world leader in terms of shopping experience and we can build our economy on that sort of excellence," he said.  "If we are going to achieve growth and create jobs, we must find ways of helping these parts of the economy grow out of the problems that have plagued them for too long.

"The most recent CSO retail figures give some small grounds for optimism, and I am determined to ensure that government does everything it can to support the domestic economy and ensure that today’s very welcome announcement can be replicated across the country,” the Minister added.

Director of Dundrum Town Centre Don Nugent said in addition to the 300 jobs, the centre is also advertising 41 jobs as part of its day-to-day recruitment.

He said while the town centre is not “recession proof” today’s announcement marks “some light at the end of the tunnel for the retail sector”.