Royal Irish Regiment

HC Deb 07 September 2004 vol 424 cc1188-9W

David Burnside

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his Oral Statement of 21 July 2004,Official Report, columns 343–70, what the future battalion strength of the Royal Irish Regiment will be; and whether it will include the retention of the three Home Battalions. [186526]

Mr. Ingram

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced on 21 July 2004,Official Report, columns 343–370, that the number of Regular battalions in the Army would reduce by four to 36 by April 2008. This will allow the resulting manpower to be redistributed across the Army to create more robust unit establishments under the Future Army Structure. To maintain a regional balance the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment has been exempted from consideration.

The Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service) battalions are fundamental to the armed forces' support of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. No decisions have been taken concerning their future role, as it is premature to come to conclusions about the composition of the long-term garrison.