International investment bank Schroder Salomon Smith Barney will enhance its Irish operation with an investment banking advisory service.

This will help Irish technology firms to acquire capital for growth and in developing through mergers and acquisitions.

"Schroder is particularly enthusiastic at the opportunities for Irish technology companies to become world leaders," the bank said.

Dubliner Mr Ken McGrath, was with Schroder in London until April 1999 when he joined AIB Corporate Finance. He will return as director of European Investment Banking. Schroder set up in Dublin last year and has the largest equity trading operation of the international houses in the Republic.

It operates under the umbrella of Citigroup, which employs about 1,500 people in the IFSC.