US tech giant Apple will create up to 1,000 jobs at its European headquarters in Cork, southern Ireland, by mid-2017, the Irish government said on Wednesday.

The announcement coincides with a visit to Dublin by Apple's chief executive Tim Cook, who met with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny.

"Great to chat with Tim Cook on the day Apple announce 1000 new jobs in Cork," Kenny said in a tweet.

European Affairs and Data Protection Minister Dara Murphy added in a statement that Apple would be making "a very significant investment in their facility".

"I am delighted that the fruits of recovery are now being felt not just in the Dublin area, but around the country," he said.

Apple's offices are perched on a hill overlooking the city of Cork and the company currently employs a total of around 5,000 people across the country.

Apple was one of the first tech firms to set up in Ireland in 1980 and has been followed by many top names such as Twitter, Microsoft and Google, earning the country the moniker "Europe's Silicon Valley".

Many US companies looking for a European base are drawn by Ireland's English-speaking skilled workforce and its highly competitive tax rates, which have drawn controversy.

Apple is still awaiting the EU's judgement on its tax deal with Ireland.

Source: AFP