The Defence Forces are preparing to commit 600 to 1,000 troops to the proposed European Rapid Reaction Force being set up under Common EU Security and Defence plans to assist in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions.
The military would also like to see an end to escorting cash deliveries around the State, which takes up tens of thousands of working hours.
However, the forces are still waiting to hear from the Government whether they would be required to provide an infantry battalion for service with the European Rapid Reaction Force. The Government is due to notify the EU of its intentions at a "commitments conference" on European defence policy in November.
Speaking yesterday, the outgoing Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieut Gen David Stapleton, said he had yet to hear from the Government on the military's precise commitments in the rapid reaction force.
The force is expected to consist of around 60,000 military and 5,000 police for peacekeeping and humanitarian crises by 2003.
While the Defence Forces are uncertain about the Government's intentions, they are making contingency plans in anticipation of taking part in the force, Lieut Gen Stapleton said. He said they were preparing to contribute between 600 and 1,000 troops. The remarks came as Lieut Gen Stapleton introduced the Defence Forces' first annual report. All Government departments and State organisations must publish such reports under the strategic management initiative efficiency drive.
The Chief of Staff said the Defence Forces did not know if they were to maintain their current commitment to the United Nations (970 troops serving abroad), while making a sizeable contribution to the new European Force.
He pointed out the "establishment" (the target size) of the Defence Forces had been reduced from 18,000 to 10,500 in the past seven years.
Lieut Gen Stapleton said he would like to see an end to the Army's role in providing security for cash escorts around the State. There were 21,650 military cash escorts in 1999 which, he said, represented a huge commitment of personnel resources.