All available Army resources are being put on standby to assist in the campaign against the spread of foot and mouth, a Defence Forces spokesman said last night.
The military may have to be used if there is mass slaughter. But by yesterday the Garda and Army were still involved only in patrolling the Louth exclusion zone and the Border.
There are some 7,500 soldiers in the State. The Defence Forces have a total strength of about 10,500. But 1,000 are abroad on peace-keeping missions and the Air Corps and Naval Service account for another 2,000.
The Eastern and Western Brigades are already engaged in patrolling, mainly in the Border area.
A thousand soldiers from the Southern Brigade are being put on standby to move north if needed to help in the crisis. Four battalions, consisting of about 400 troops, from the south are on 12-hour notice to move. The remaining 600 are on 24-hour notice.
Garda management is also re-examining its commitment. Immediately the outbreak in Meigh was confirmed on February 21st, 442 gardai were sent to the Border to assist the 1,500 serving there.
Since then the Garda and Army have maintained 141 Border crossings with Northern Ireland, all on a 24-hour basis.
On Wednesday night, as fears grew about the possible spread of the disease to the Cooley peninsula, the Garda reinforced the existing 13 checkpoints around the Meigh exclusion zone.
Yesterday the Garda asked the public to co-operate fully with the measures introduced to help prevent the spread of the disease.
Motorists approaching Border crossings should be aware of the presence of the checkpoints and reduce speed accordingly. Motorists should also expect delays at some checkpoints, particularly those on the busier main roads.
They should also be aware that they will be stopped more than once if travelling into the special protection zone in Co Louth.