More than 200 jobs will be created by Irish DIY chain Atlantic Homecare as part of the company's €10m expansion plan, which will involve the opening of new stores by the end of 2004. The additional stores will bring to 16 the number of Atlantic Homecare stores in Ireland and will see its workforce increase to around 700. The company is wholly Irish-owned, and is a cornerstone of the Heiton Group. The expansion has been attributed to the rise in home ownership.