Johnston Press is carrying out the same title-closing, cost-cutting and editor-firing programme in Ireland as in Britain.
It has announced the closure of the Offaly Express in Tullamore, costing eight jobs. It also plans to appoint create "editorship clusters" by appointing joint editors for the Leitrim Observer and Longford Leader, and the Leinster Express and Leinster Leader.
This will involve the four editors applying for two positions, with the unsuccessful candidates being made redundant. Five advertising managers are also on notice of possible redundancy.
The National Union of Journalists said the closure would undermine "media diversity" in the country's Midlands region.
According to the latest accounts, Johnston Press's Irish division recorded pretax losses of €3.9m (£3.1m) in 2010 and €5.3m (£4.2m) in 2009. Its revenues in 2010 declined by 25% to €23m (£18.4m).
The 2010 results included redundancy costs of €1.9m (£1.5m), which reflected the closure of a print press and restructuring of management in Ireland.
Sources: Irish Times/RTE
