Good news on the employment front, as McDonald"s fast-food restaurant announces the creation of 700 jobs, with investment of €20 million in its Irish operations over the next 3 years.

It will open 12 new restaurants between now and the end of 2015 in areas including Dublin, Kilkenny, Ballina in Co. Mayo and the Kildare Village.

The US giant currently employs just over 4,000 people here and this figure will rise to 4,700 when the new jobs come on-stream.

The first McDonald’s opened in Ireland on Grafton Street in Dublin back in May 1977.

Newstalk spoke with Managing Director of McDonald"s Ireland, Adrian Crean about the move.