Involvement in the Chad mission, which is mandated by the UN, still has to be approved by the Dáil next Wednesday.
If that is forthcoming, the first Irish troops are expected to be deployed in mid-December, when 60 to 70 soldiers, including personnel from the Army's elite Ranger wing and communications and logistics specialists, are due on the ground in eastern Chad.
Along with special forces from other EU states taking part in the mission, the Irish unit will form part of what is known as an "initial entry force" to facilitate the arrival of follow-on troops. A number of Defence Forces personnel have already taken part in reconnaissance trips to Chad since the mission was approved at EU level in September.
An engineer advance party is expected to follow in January. It will set up water-supply systems and address other infrastructure issues at the location chosen as a base camp for Irish troops. It is understood this camp will be located in the environs of Abeche, the main town in eastern Chad and a major hub for humanitarian organisations working in the region. It is also the town where members of French charity Zoe's Ark were caught attempting to illegally transport 103 African children to Europe last month.
It is expected that the main body of Irish troops will arrive in February. The 4,300-strong force will be predominantly French, and Ireland's contribution of up to 400 troops will form the second-largest component. It is understood that Poland has pledged about 300 soldiers, Sweden 200 and Romania 100. A number of other nations, including Austria and Belgium, have indicated they will send fewer than 100 troops.