The announcement came as a significant boost to the retail sector, which has been haemorrhaging thousands of jobs in recent months.

"We have over 100 jobs on top of the 400 jobs we announced last September," said director Don Nugent.

"Dundrum thankfully is still getting growth in its footfall. We are showing growth of around 10pc in the first 15 weeks or so of the year. Now that's not necessarily translating into similar levels in sales, people are spending more cautiously. But it is still encouraging that customers haven't hibernated."

Mr Nugent said the restaurants at the centre were continuing to do very good business.

Recruitment

The new stores will create a wide diversity in jobs, from sales assistants to waiters to butchers, and bring employment numbers past 5,600 for the centre.

Recruitment is done through the stores independently, but job advertisements are posted on the shopping centre's website, Dundrum.ie.

Meanwhile, health and fitness firm Ozone announced the creation of 20 new jobs for Ennis, Co Clare, yesterday, as well as plans to create a laser eye treatment clinic.

Ozone Health & Fitness Ltd confirmed the new jobs will be generated over the next six weeks at the new centre in the Quin Road Business Park.

Centre director Ken O'Malley said: "We are delighted to announce the creation of 20 new jobs at this newly opened centre of excellence for fitness and health."

Stephen O'Farrell and Pat Flynn