Independent News & Media (IN&M) has refused to comment on suggestions that staff from the two Dublin-based tabloids, the Sunday World and the Star, will be moved to new premises.

Staff at the Irish Independent claimed this week they were informed that Sunday World and Star newspaper staff would be joining them in a new premises on Talbot St in Dublin city centre.

But a company spokesman refused to comment on suggestions that office space belonging to the two papers in Terenure, Co Dublin would then be sold.

He said the only commitment the company had made was to sell its Middle Abbey St premises.

IN&M has a printing operation in Terenure, behind the offices of the Sunday World. According to sources this is not going to be sold, but there would be a significant value attached to offices adjoining the print works. The Star newspaper has offices a short distance away.

Meanwhile, the company yesterday confirmed that more than 180 staff had come forward to accept a redundancy package on offer since August 2003.

A total of 205 redundancies have been sought by May 21st, 2004.

The redundancies are part of an attempt by the company to outsource large parts of its administrative and clerical functions.

Mr Vincent Crowley, chief executive of Independent Newspapers Limited, said there had been an overwhelming response to the package over recent weeks.

He said this reflected the very generous terms on offer averaging, more than €112,000 per person.

"Additional applications are being received each day and there is still a week remaining before the deadline for acceptance expires."

Unions will meet in Dublin this weekend to discuss the way the the company has handled the redundancy programme.