The deployment of 50 Irish Army Rangers to Chad in central Africa is now planned for Thursday next week.
The force commander Lieutenant General Pat Nash informed Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea about this plan this afternoon.
Minister O'Dea flew to Paris to meet the Irish commander of the 14-state EU force.
Their talks centred on the deployment of specialist Irish troops to Chad.
Defence Force spokesman Captain Feargal Purcell said 50 troops from the Army Rangers Wing are on standby.
Their departure was initially held up last December due to a shortage of air and medical support.
They were further delayed a fortnight ago when battles erupted between rebels and Chadian government forces.
Now with the atmosphere calmer and the facilities in place, the rangers are finally due to depart - to prepare the way for 350 more Irish troops later in the Spring.
