Bank of Ireland has closed six branches in Dublin and 10 more are being prepared in the coming months. It is initially merging branches that are close to each other in urban areas and says it will not leave any town without a branch. Branches on the immediate list for closure are in Dundalk, Carlow, Waterford, Cork and Clare, with up to 65 to be closed by 2002 as part of a €65 million (£51 million) cost-cutting programme.

Mr Vincent Brennan, project manager at Bank of Ireland, says staff and customers are given four months' notice on closures and are met individually to discuss their options. The bank is optimistic that those who want to remain with the bank can be accommodated.

The timing of the restructuring at Ulster Bank has been linked to the arrival of its new parent, Royal Bank of Scotland. But much of what is contained in the bank's Horizon Programme was originated by Ulster Bank's senior management team in Ireland as part of their plan before the takeover to run it as an independent bank with a listing on the Irish Stock Exchange.

Ulster Bank chief executive Mr Martin Wilson has stressed that Royal Bank of Scotland is fully supportive of what is going on at its Irish operations.

Bank staff believe Mr Wilson and his team are trying to implement their plan now to impress the new Scottish owner. Some staff are questioning how supportive Royal Bank will ultimately be if their endeavours damage the bank's business.

AIB remains fully committed to the branch network and invests £25 million annually in it. Decisions to close branches are based on shifts in population and, where branches are closed, additional automated cash machines are made available, according to a spokeswoman.

Irish Life and Permanent has not put a figure on the scale of rationalisation resulting from the Irish Permanent and TSB merger. In many towns, both groups have branches that are close together. A separate cost reduction programme is underway at Irish Permanent, with 10 branches closed in Dublin and seven in rural areas to be converted to agencies.

Mr Gerry Danaher, integration project manager, says it has redeployed staff in the Dublin area who have been affected and that some staff may be accommodated in agency arrangements in rural areas.

National Irish Bank is closing a branch in Strokestown, Co Roscommon, and another in Clones, Co Monaghan, but does not have a branch closure programme. It may open new branches in areas where the population is growing and will continue to review its network.