McDonald's contributes €3.7m to north-east region, new report shows

The McDonald's fast food restaurant chain, which employs 170 people in the north-east region, generates over €2.5 million in household incomes in the region, according to a new report from Indecon International Economic Consultants. The report shows that the overall impact of McDonald's north-east operations, including Meath, comprising labour (wages and salaries) and non-labour costs, amounts to €3.7 million annually. The report also shows that McDonald's employs 170 in the region, generating over €2.5 million in household incomes in the region in 2008 alone. In addition, on a nationwide basis, the company is facilitating exports of Irish-origin food produce to the value of €396.4 million to the McDonald's system across Europe. McDonald's Meath operator, Morgan McStay, said that the report's findings show the significance of McDonald's for the county. "The findings of the Indecon report demonstrate how embedded the company has become in Meath and the impact McDonald's has had locally both as a major employer and as an investor in the region," he said. Dr Pat McCloughan, divisional director of Indecon, said: "This report is evidence that, as a company, McDonald's has a significant impact on the regional economy, in terms of employment generation, exchequer contribution and export growth. This report also recognises the positive socio-economic impact the company plays as a result of its staff development programmes and in fostering entrepreneurship." McDonald's has also announced that the company is to invest €12 million in its Irish operation nationwide with the opening of four new restaurants in 2010, creating 250 jobs. The four new restaurants, which will be open by the end of 2010, will bring the number of stores nationwide to 82. The 250 positions will be filled by the end of the current year, bringing the number of employees in Ireland to 3,850. The company plans further new openings in 2011 and 2012. Recruitment for the 250 positions will commence in July of this year. Over €6.5 million worth of Irish beef was consumed at McDonald's restaurants in Ireland in 2008, with €80 million consumed across the company's European outlets, the report also highlights. In addition to the opening of the new stores, the company's ongoing capital investment programme will see a further 13 restaurants refurbished, meaning that, by 2011, every McDonald's restaurant in Ireland will either be a new-build or will have been completely refurbished.