The Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, is expected to pledge about 800 members of the Defence Forces to the planned European rapid reaction force in Brussels next month.
The new military force, which was agreed in Helsinki last December, is being established under EU security and defence plans to assist peacekeeping and humanitarian missions.
The force, to be established by 2003, is expected to comprise 60,000 troops and 5,000 police who can be called on in crises for duties for up to 12 months.
The force is also being set up in response to perceived threats of instability, particularly arising from unresolved national disputes to the east of the EU's present borders.
Germany and France have already committed their contingents.
In Brussels on November 21st Ireland is expected to contribute a light infantry battalion.
The State may also commit certain types of equipment, including 40 armoured personnel carriers due to be delivered early next year.
Within the next month the Minister for Defence is expected to meet the Government and decide on the exact number of soldiers to commit to the force.
The Army is already making contingency plans in anticipation of taking part in the force.
At present the Defence Forces have 10,500 members, including about 1,000 in the Naval Service and 1,000 in the Air Corps. Some 9 per cent are on peacekeeping duties overseas at any one time.