Tesco Ireland has announced plans to create 400 new jobs across the country. The massive expansion is part of a €40 million investment that will see the retailer open ten new stores nationwide over the next 12 months.

The new jobs will bring Tesco Ireland's permanent workforce to over 13,500 staff. Among the roles being offered will be customer assistants, grocery home delivery drivers and line managers.

The ten new stores will be both larger supermarkets and smaller Express shops, bringing Tesco’s total presence in Ireland to 193 stores.

A total of 100 of the new jobs will be created at Tesco’s new Fermoy store in Co Cork, which is set to open at the end of July.

Elsewhere, new Tesco stores will be opened in Dublin, Galway, Louth, and Meath, with recruitment for supermarkets in both the M1 Retail Park and Howth set to start in the autumn.

Tesco also acquired McEvoy’s supermarket in Virginia, County Cavan earlier this year. The 43 staff from McEvoys have transferred to Tesco, with an additional six new roles created in the local community the supermarket chain said in a statement.

"This €40, investment underscores our commitment to maintaining our position as a leading employer and retailer in Ireland," said Geoff Byrne, chief executive of Tesco Ireland.

"Our colleagues are at the heart of our business, and we look forward to welcoming new team members this year and recognising them with market-leading reward and benefits," Byrne said.

Peter Burke, the minister for enterprise, tourism and employment, described the jobs announcement as an incredible boost for local towns and the Irish economy.

"The creation of these jobs, particularly with the opening of ten new stores across several counties including Cork, Dublin, and Galway, is a clear endorsement of Ireland's retail sector and workforce," Burke said.

(Pic: Getty Images)