DUBLIN, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Irish deputies approved on Wednesday sending 400 troops to Chad as part of a European Union peacekeeping force, but the mission faces a potential delay in deployment due to a lack of vital equipment.

Irish Lieutenant-General Patrick Nash heads the EU protection force that will deploy up to 3,700 troops from several European countries across the harsh savannah and scrubland of east Chad and northeast Central African Republic.

Chad and Sudan accuse each other of supporting rival armed factions, particularly during the past two years of rebellion in Chad's east against President Idriss Deby's 17-year rule.

Relief workers have been clamouring for more than a year for international protection for more than 400,000 Sudanese and Chadian civilian refugees who have been forced from their homes because of violence in Darfur and in eastern Chad.

A Defence Ministry spokeswoman said the motion to send troops was passed in the Dail (lower chamber) with cross-party support. The Irish cabinet already gave the green light last week.

"Ireland is determined to play a meaningful and constructive role in this mission as the expected second largest contributor," Defence Minister Willie O'Dea told deputies.

"Ireland has the opportunity to contribute, in a substantive manner, in bringing stability to a key region in Africa."

In the biggest clash for months between Chad's government forces and eastern rebels, the army said on Monday it had killed hundreds of insurgents near the border with Darfur in violence underlining the risks that await EU troops.

O'Dea said an advance Irish troop detachment was expected to be deployed in December, with its main force likely to arrive in January or February.

France is due to provide the backbone of the force with contributions from other countries including the Netherlands and Poland.

But some EU countries have continued to refuse making up the shortfall in vital resources and efforts to launch the mission by early next month remain in doubt after a fruitless meeting of EU envoys on Tuesday.

Diplomats said EU leaders may have to try to break the deadlock at a Dec. 14 summit in Brussels.

French General Henri Bentegeat, head of the EU's Military Committee, said earlier this month the planned force lacked 10 helicopters, a third medical facility and other support assets.

(Reporting by Jonathan Saul)

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