The defence Forces are preparing a second contingent of extra troops to travel to south Lebanon next month to help establish new camps and deal with the huge amount of unexploded artillery and mines left in the former Israeli-controlled area.
Some 50 engineers and a small team of ordnance experts are being prepared for movement to Lebanon in the middle of next month, once the operation has been sanctioned by Government.
They will follow the contingent of 50 troops who began travelling to the area earlier this week to provide extra driving crews for the additional patrolling by armoured cars during the transitional period from the Israeli withdrawal to the establishment of a UN security presence.
The engineers are to be used to build an additional three Irish bases in the central border area. The posts will be on high ground to provide a visible security presence.
The Irish battalion strength will rise to over 700 during this transitional period. It will then gradually reduce if the region continues to experience the peace which began with the Israeli withdrawal last month.
The battalion is likely to retain its headquarters beside the Muslim village of Tibnin. However, several of the small Irish-held positions will be abandoned as the battalion amalgamates its strength. The posts being abandoned include one known as -642 beside the village of Brashit. This post was regularly hit by shells fired by the Israeli-backed militia, the South Lebanon Army, in retaliation for shelling of its positions by Hizbullah guerrillas.
All Irish positions will be of at least platoon strength, with at least 20 to 30 soldiers.