Investments worth more than £58 million which will lead to the creation of 1,387 new jobs in 50 companies have been announced.
Of the 50 companies involved, 14 are start-up businesses and they will create 310 jobs between them. Most of the other companies are in an early stage of development and are embarking on an expansion programme.
The £58 million of investments are being supported by Enterprise Ireland, the State agency for business development. The investments are part of Enterprise Ireland's three-year plan to develop "sustainable competitive advantage in indigenous enterprise".
The companies are drawn from the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors and include firms in software, information technology, engineering, electronics, consumer prod ucts and multimedia sectors. The companies receiving the investments are involved in exporting.
The Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney, said the jobs announcement "demonstrates in no uncertain terms that there now exists in Ireland a confident enterprise culture, producing a new breed of young entrepreneur willing to take risks and set up their own companies".
Some 13 of the 50 companies creating the jobs are in Dublin, with the largest amount being created at ICON plc, the clinical trials company. It is expanding its operations with an investment of £5 million and this will create 190 jobs at a new 30,000 sq ft premises at Leopardstown, Co Dublin.
The second-highest number of jobs are to be created by Managed Solutions, based in Pembroke Road, Dublin. It will expand its workforce from 70 to 150 as sales of its packaged software products grow.
Some 319 jobs are being created in the west by companies mainly in Co Galway and Co Mayo.
The largest announcement in the west is by Creganna Ltd which on the back of a £3.2 million investment is creating 56 jobs. Located in Galway city the company is a subcontract manufacturer and now expects to employ 100 people in two years' time.
In the north-west, where 110 jobs are being created, the largest announcement was made on behalf of Vistamed which intends to create 32 jobs with an investment of £1 million at its plant in Roosky, Co Leitrim. Vistamed is a start-up company and will specialise in the manufacture of tubing used in medical devices.
In the south-west the largest job announcement was for Mallow, Co Cork where Mica & Micanite Ireland will create 27 as part of a £2.8 million investment. In the south-east, where 74 jobs in total are to be created, the largest one came from Mediplast, from Co Carlow, which will create 50 jobs in its area of moulded components with an investment of £1.4 million.
Some 120 jobs are being created in the midlands with Longview Technologies providing 37 of them with an investment of £1 million.