Up to 240 new jobs have been announced by two separate companies in Cork and Dublin.

Mater Private Cork to create about 150 new jobs as part of €70 million investment in expansion of the facility

The Mater Private Hospital in Cork is to recruit up to 150 doctors, nurses and other medical staff over the next two years in a €70m expansion.

Health professionals currently working abroad will be targeted for recruitment.

Anna Fitzgerald, chief executive, Mater Private Cork said that, since opening in 2013, the facility’s aim has been to become the leading private hospital in Munster.

“Our commitment today, to further increase our workforce by 150, is a further manifestation of this objective,”

Ms Fitzgerald, Chief Executive, Mater Private Cork

SideTrade French Financial Services

Elsewhere, a French financial services and software development company has announced 90 new jobs over the next two years with the establishment of a base in Dublin.

SideTrade provides payment solutions to companies on 65 countries and will offer the jobs in the areas of accounting, financial expertise and customer support.

The company CEO Olivier Novasque said they had chosen Dublin for its well-educated and motivated workforce.

The investment is being supported by the IDA.

Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton said the announcement was a “boost” for a strategy Government had been pursuing of attracting investment from European countries.