Supermarket giant Lidl is to create an additional 750 jobs in 2022 within its Irish operations.
The company will be recruiting employees for a variety of jobs, including in-store, office-based and in transport and distribution.
The new roles will become available across Lidl's 214 store locations, four regional distribution centres and its Dublin head office, adding to the team of 6,100 in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Speaking on Instagram on Thursday morning, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said: "I'm out and about today. I am in Lidl HQ here in Tallaght for some very positive news.
He added: "Some really positive news that the company is going to create 750 new jobs all across the country in stores, in transport and distribution and also in the office which means there is lots of opportunities for people being created in Lidl."
Mr Varadkar also said Lidl employees would be seeing a pay increase as the supermarket store will be making a €10 million investment in pay increases for its workforce across Ireland from March 1.
The increase is in addition to the retailer's commitment to paying the new Living Wage rate of €12.90, as recommended by the Living Wage Technical Group, the first nationwide retailer in Ireland to introduce this back in 2015.
He said: "So 750 jobs as I mentioned all over the country and also Lidl is going to be increasing pay for its staff from March.
"A 10 million increase in salaries, continuing to pay a living wage which I think is really positive too."
The Tanaiste praised the company as an employer and thanked all those who have worked within the retail sector throughout the pandemic.
He said: "It's a great company and has created employment all over Ireland, but I also want to particularly say thanks to the staff in Lidl and in retail across the country for keeping our shelves stocked and looking after us so well during the pandemic and we really very much appreciate that."
