In the context of the reorganisation of the Defence Forces, I approved a proposal from the military authorities that the military band at the Curragh should be amalgamated with the band of the Eastern Brigade, the Army No. 1 Band. The amalgamation of these two bands does not involve any reduction in the overall numbers of musicians within the school of music as already provided for within the Defence Forces review implementation plan approved by the previous Government. Under the previous organisation of the Defence Forces, each Army command, of which there were four, namely the Eastern, Curragh, Southern and Western Commands, had a military band. In the new organisational structure, these four commands were replaced by three brigades. Each of these three brigades, Eastern, Southern and Western, has a band as part of its organisation, with the band of the former Curragh Command being now amalgamated with the band of the Eastern Brigade.
The military authorities are of the opinion that this new organisation of the school of music will allow all of the Army bands to function to their full potential.
The eventual deployment of personnel of the Army School of Music as envisaged under the revised structure will be as follows: