The Army's specialist ranger wing is to be expanded and will increase training on anti-hijack and anti-terrorist operations.
Senior army sources last night said that members of the Army ranger wing who had left and gone to serve in other parts of the Army are being returned immediately for service with the ARW.
At any one time there are about 100 members of the ARW all trained to very high levels of physical fitness and military skills.
The ARW contains the defence forces' top snipers and all its members are trained in anti-hijacking, anti-hostage and interdiction operations.
The soldiers also train with similar elite groups in other armies including the SAS in Britain and European and US forces. Official figures for how many soldiers serve with the ARW are not available, but it is believed that it may be doubled in strength.