Irish retail giant Primark has announced plans to move more than 200 of its staff from the UK to Dublin.

The company, which trades as Penneys in Ireland, has said it will merge its Buying, Merchandising, Design, Quality and Sourcing operations.

Currently, these are separated across two locations in Dublin and Reading, England.

From September, it is amalgamating these operations to be based at its Dublin headquarters.

The company has said there are currently 220 people based in Reading who will all be "offered the opportunity to work in Dublin."

In a statement, Primark said: "These changes are part of Primark's ongoing strategic focus to develop the product model to be more closely aligned with its customers' needs."

Primark CEO Paul Marchant said the change will "ensure our business strategy and our expansion into new international markets is fully supported."

While group director of people and culture at Primark, Lorraine Culligan, added: "It is important that the scale of our business and the needs of our customers are reflected in our internal structures as Primark continues to grow.

"All of our people who are in any affected roles will have the opportunity to work in Dublin.

"Our colleagues will be fully supported during this period of change."

Primark has 350 stores in 11 countries: Ireland, the UK, Spain, Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, France, Italy and the US.

The company, which opened its first store in Dublin in 1969, has more than 73,000 employees.