Updated 15.55

490 new jobs have been announced by three separate companies today.

Applegreen is to create 360 new jobs through the development of six service stations over the next two years.

It comes as the first of the new motorway facilities officially opens on the M11 in Wicklow today, employing 60 staff.

The company says it will be used by an average of 35,000 motorists per day.

In addition to the new full time jobs, more than 250 construction workers will be contracted for construction at each site. 

Once opened, Applegreen says there will be 60 full time positions at each service area.

The additional sites will be located in Birdhill, Co. Tipperary; Swords, Co. Dublin and Lemybrien, Co. Waterford - which is currently under construction.

It is part of a €30 million investment by the forecourt retailer.

Joe Barrett is the Director of Applegreen:

Elsewhere, 80 new jobs are set to come on stream in Waterford as Irish e-cigarette company Healthier Smoker launches a new facility.

The firm, which produces organic e-liquids to help people quit smoking, say it needs 80 workers for a new manufacturing facility at Six Cross Roads.

The jobs will be in manufacturing, retail and distribution.

The company says it sees the potential for the creation of up to 1,000 jobs over the next 12 months. 

The CEO of "Healthier Smoker", Stephen Ryan, says some positions have been filled, but the company still needs to hire 58:

And Carphone Warehouse will create 50 new jobs in marketing, finance, IT, commercial and technology.

This will bring to more than 750 the numbers employed by the company.

It comes after the firm announced it will partner with mobile network Three to launch a new mobile operator.

Commenting on the new mobile virtual network, Managing Director Peter Scott, said "This new partnership with Three opens an exciting new chapter for Carphone Warehouse and for our customers. It allows us to expand our business and create 50 new jobs in a continued challenging retail environment".