The Irish Times is to introduce digital subscriptions from next week. Readers will have free access to 10 articles every week, but after that a paywall will kick in.

The paper is the first national daily title to have a subscription for its content.

The paper's editor Kevin O'Sullivan says the move will support future investment in journalism.

"The scale of digital change is phenomenal and it has hit every single media organisation," he said

"It goes beyond newspapers into television, radio and film. We have all had to question and review how we operate, how we serve our readers and how we fund our journalism," he added.

The subscriptions are being introduced because the company does not believe it can sustain its online journalism through advertising income alone.

The paper says there will be two main subscription packages.

The standard subscription will cost €12 a month and gives readers unlimited access to their website and archive.

While a premium subscription, at €16 a month, gives readers everything in the standard package plus the digital edition of the Irish Times itself.

Other titles to have previously introduced paywalls include the Irish Sun and the Sunday Business Post.