Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 64 and 103 together.

The the value for money review of Naval Service vessel maintenance was recently completed and was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas earlier this month. The review comprehensively examines all aspects of Naval Service vessel maintenance and was undertaken by a steering committee comprised of civilian personnel from the Departments of Defence and Finance and military personnel from the Defence Forces. The review discovered there was a low incidence of unscheduled maintenance resulting in lost patrol days and that the maintenance function was appropriately focused on supporting the operational targets of the Naval Service. This is underpinned by an ongoing programme of planned preventative maintenance.

The recommendations to which the Deputy's questions refer are but two of a range of such recommendations aimed at improving the maintenance function within the Naval Service. The recommended completion of a planned preventative maintenance manual for each vessel and the introduction of a dedicated maintenance management team will enhance the co-ordination of maintenance resources within the Naval Service.

The planned preventative maintenance manuals will contain a detailed list of maintenance activities on a ship-by-ship basis outlining the number of personnel required to complete each task, the necessary parts and consumables, the frequency of task and an estimate of the duration of each task. This will inform maintenance planning and provide a basis for better monitoring of the efficiency of maintenance tasks undertaken. As noted in the review, the Naval Service has already commenced work on these manuals.

The review recommended the establishment of a dedicated maintenance management team. This team will complement and draw from the existing management structures and will provide high-level and centralised co-ordination of maintenance execution. This will ensure that maintenance resources are optimally deployed in line with maintenance priorities. The Naval Service has established this team, the work of which is ongoing.

I am pleased that many of the issues highlighted by the steering committee in the review were already being addressed by the Naval Service and that many of the recommendations identified during the course of the review were quickly acted upon, where possible. The defence organisation has a good track record of implementing the findings of value for money reviews and I am confident that the further recommendations outlined in this review will be acted upon in due course.

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