Cork and Galway have received a jobs boost with two indigenous IT companies announcing a combined 95 jobs for the cities.
Dublin-founded IT service provider Version 1 opened its Munster headquarters in Cork, saying it planned to expand its workforce to 75 by 2021 by increasing cloud and digital services.
Version 1 clients include the Department of Transport, Laya Healthcare, Musgrave Group, Bord Gáis Energy, DePuy Synthes and The Irish Cattle Breeders Federation.
The firm employs 1,200 at 10 locations in Ireland, the UK and India.
Cork Lord Mayor, Cllr Mick Finn said the region's IT industry was "playing a central role in the economic engine of the city and county", and that the city was "an attractive proposition for employers like Version 1 seeking a highly skilled IT workforce".
Chief executive of Version 1, Tom O'Connor said Cork's talent pool was a major factor in its decision to expand.
In Galway, Irish startup Joulica said it planned to expand to 70 staff by adding 45 new jobs as it expanded its product development in Europe and the US markets.
The firm is a software provider to global firms that allows extraction of patterns from data streams.
The new jobs in software, data analytics and business development will be over the next three years.
Business Minister, Heather Humphreys said the expansion by Joulica was "a clear vote of confidence in Galway and the West as a top-class business location".
Chief executive Tony McCormack said there was a "depth of talent available to innovative technology start-ups" in Galway.