The British army is strongly denying reports of plans to disband the Home Service element of the Royal Irish Regiment (RIR).
A spokesman told The Irish Times that any document which might be published over the coming days would not say the RIR was to be disbanded.
He said that "like any responsible employer", the British Ministry of Defence frequently briefed its military and civilian staff, and their families, on developments "at local and command level".
The British army had been constantly reducing troop levels in Northern Ireland as the peace process unfolded and there would be further reductions in the size of the military presence "as and when the security situation allows".
DUP deputy leader Mr Peter Robinson said the disbandment of the RIR's home battalions was "coming to pass" despite previous reassurances. He blamed the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, for the development.
"The slashing of RIR numbers and the abolition of local bat- talions can be laid at the door of David Trimble. This latest move is merely a further implementation of what was agreed both at Weston Park and during the Hillsborough talks earlier this year," he said.
"It was perfectly clear from the army cuts that the RIR would be sacrificed to appease republicans. David Trimble either knew of this at the time or was hopelessly incompetent in failing to recognise the natural consequence of a slashing of army numbers in Northern Ireland.
"Having already sacrificed the RUC for his own political ambitions, it is clear the RIR is heading the same way. Much as the UUP may try to deny it, yet again they are accomplices in the destruction of those who have served the community at home and abroad."
A locally recruited security service has operated in support of the police since the foundation of the Northern state.
The Ulster Defence Regiment was created in 1970 to replace the B Specials, which were disbanded, and to provide opportunities for those who wished to serve in the security forces following the outbreak of the Troubles.
The Royal Irish Regiment was created in 1992 following a merger of the UDR, which was phased out, and the Royal Irish Rangers.
The RIR operates in two sections, a Home Service which supports the police in combating the paramilitary threat, and an overseas division which serves abroad.
This branch of the RIR was posted to Iraq during the conflict there and served under the leadership of Col Tim Collins.
It is the Home Service which unionists say may disappear if "normalisation" proposals, already suggested by the British government, are enacted.
The RIR operates from barracks in Northern Ireland based in Omagh, Co Tyrone; Drumadd, Co Armagh, and Holywood, Co Down.
The regiment's strength now stands at 3,525, of whom 1,395 are part-time. In line with the dwindling British army presence in Northern Ireland since the ceasefires of 1994, the RIR is down from a strength of nearly 8,000 and 11 battalions.
The scale of the British army presence is closely tied to the political situation and estimates by the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the British army's GOC of the level of paramilitary threat.