§ Mr. DonaldsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many companies have been disbanded in each battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment since the regiment was formed; and how many of these companies have been disbanded in the past two years. [87889]
§ Mr. Doug Henderson[holding answer 22 June 1999]: Since the formation of the Royal Irish Regiment Home Service on 1 July 1992 the following Battalions and Companies have been disbanded or amalgamated:
6th Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment was amalgamated into 3rd Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment in 1993. As a result Headquarters Company, 6' Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment was disbanded.Two part-time companies within 8' Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, E Company based at Aughnacloy and K Company at Dungannon, were amalgamated in 1993.One full-time/part-time company within 3rd Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, B Company based at Kilkeel, was disbanded in 1997 and the personnel amalgamated into companies based at Ballykinler.125WOne part-time company within 3rd Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, E Company based at Portadown, was amalgamated into D and L Companies in June 1999.The following companies have been created:
C Company, a full-time/part-time company within 3rd Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, was formed in Rathfriland in January 1993.A Company and F Company, two full-time/part-time companies within 4th Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, changed to become full-time companies in November 1995.One full-time company within 5th Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, F Company, was formed in Ballykelly in 1996.One full-time company within 8th Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, F Company, was formed in Armagh in 1998.There have also been a number of moves by companies within the battalions from one location to another.
Strengths of Royal Irish Regiment Home Service Battalions 1992–1999 19921 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 BN PT FT PT FT PT FT PT FT PT FT PT FT PT FT PT FT 3 304 257 594 616 561 633 502 624 483 580 467 544 464 529 466 517 4 506 604 481 613 481 603 444 588 446 535 435 504 415 474 396 462 5 420 380 350 387 255 390 221 376 205 360 206 369 210 356 194 386 62 335 407 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 7 425 411 386 414 354 432 347 446 318 437 352 443 334 367 324 359 8 397 364 369 380 357 385 335 388 328 382 298 356 279 396 270 393 9 367 412 328 412 274 415 262 431 247 411 241 398 239 358 226 354 1 The Royal Irish Regiment was formed on 1 July 1992 2 6 R Iridh was amalgamated with 3 R Irish on 15 January 1999 Notes:
1. All strengths as at 31 December except 1999 for which figures are as at 31 May
2. Figures excluded Regimental Headquarters, Depot and General Service personel attached to Home Service Battalions.