The software company is looking for people with skills in areas including computer science, engineering, physics, maths, information systems and business.

Some 150 posts will be based in SAP's services, sales and global support functions, located at Citywest in Dublin. A further 100 positions will be based at the company's newly-created cloud services and support centre in Galway.

SAP has invested 110 million in the expansion, and regional development agency IDA Ireland has provided an undisclosed amount of financial support in the form of grant aid.

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."

The new jobs add to SAP's current 1,200 employees in Ireland. The company started its operations in the country 15 years ago in Dublin and claims that 30,000 people in the country now log onto an SAP installation every day. SAP provides services to many global brands such as Bank of Ireland, Guinness and Ryanair.