SAP has announced plans to create 250 jobs in Ireland over the next three years. The software giant will be employing staff with skills in computer science, engineering, physics, maths, information systems and business.

150 of the new posts will be based in Citywest, Dublin - SAP's centre for services, sales and global support functions. The remaining 100 positions will be based at SAP’s recently founded cloud services and support centre in Galway. SAP currently has 1,200 employees in Ireland.

Barry O'Leary, CEO of IDA Ireland, said: "This expansion drive will help support major growth in customer demand in the emerging technology areas of cloud computing, mobile applications and high-performing database technology."

SAP began operations in Ireland 15 years ago and claims that 30,000 people in the country use SAP software every day. The company also delivers services to many Irish global firms such as Ryanair, Bank of Ireland and Guinness.