This service supports the Garda Síochána, the national police force, in an Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) role, as well as providing the three branches of the Defence Forces (Army, Naval Service and Air Corps) with EOD, IEDD and CBRNE defence (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives) specialist capability across its full spectrum of operations.

[2][3] The corps has a long history of Counter-IED efforts (C-IED) within the state owing to The Troubles and the proliferation in use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by dissident republican paramilitary and terrorist groups, and more recently Irish and international organised criminal drug gangs.

[4] Significant experience was built up during UNIFIL missions in Lebanon, and the ISAF counter-IED programme in Afghanistan was largely developed by senior Irish Army ordnance officers.

[8] There are a number of Irish Army EOD teams located across the country in military barracks, ready for operations throughout the state 24/7, 365 days a year.

[9] In the year ending 2014, Irish Army EOD squads were called out to 141 domestic incidents, 53 of which involved viable improvised explosive devices.