A total of 71 jobs are to be lost in nine provincial newspapers owned by the UK-based group Johnston Press. Ronan McGreevyreports.

Johnston, which owns almost 50 titles on both sides of the Border, made the announcement to regional managers in Portlaoise yesterday.

The nine titles involved are the Tallaght Echo, Dundalk Democrat, Leinster Leader, Leinster Express, Longford Leader, Leitrim Observer, Clonmel Nationalist, Tipperary Starand Kilkenny People.

The jobs will be lost in finance, administration and pre-press production and redundancies will be made on a voluntary basis from next September.

Making the announcement, Mr Barry Brennan, divisional managing director of Johnston Press in the Republic of Ireland, said: "This proposal delivers the changes that we require for the future viability and competitiveness of all of our titles in the Republic of Ireland.

"While it is regrettable that 71 redundancies out of a total workforce of 432 are necessary, every effort will be made to minimise the impact through voluntary severance and redeployment."

Most of the workers who will lose their jobs are in the Amicus union. Amicus regional officer Claire Keane said staff were "extremely disappointed" about the announcement.

"We are going to be in consultation with Johnston to save as many jobs as possible. We don't regard these cuts as necessary."

She added: "Johnston has invested hugely in the Irish market and now wants a return on their investment. They are making no secret of the fact that they want to increase their profits".

Johnston is now one of the largest publishers in Ireland. Last year it paid a total of €233 million for the Leinster Leader group and the Belfast-based Local Press.