John Lewis has unveiled plans for its first Irish store, creating 80 Dublin jobs.

The store will be the retail giant's first venture outside Britain, and occupy five levels at the proposed Dublin Central development, on O'Connell Street.

The Chartered Land scheme is due for completion in 2013, and will be anchored by the 250,000 square foot department store.

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However, the €50m investment is still subject to planning permission.

For several years John Lewis has been campaigning for a Northern Ireland outlet, located at the Sprucefield shopping complex near Lisburn

Revised plans for the site were published during the summer, and despite some opposition, have been broadly welcomed.

A typical John Lewis store carries more than 350,000 separate product lines.

The up-market chain sells home furnishings, furniture, fashion, audiovisual equipment and home technology.

John Lewis has an annual turnover of over £6bn (€7.4bn) and employs more than 69,000 staff.

(PR/JM)