Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by the Government. Capability equipment requirements are kept under ongoing review in light of present and expected operational needs.

The White Paper on Defence 2015 provides for the replacement of the two CASA C-235 maritime patrol aircraft with larger more capable aircraft that would enhance maritime surveillance and provide a greater degree of utility for transport and cargo-carrying tasks. The Department of Defence follows a rigorous systematic process to ensure that military equipment that is procured meets the capability requirements as identified by the Defence Forces. As part of the acquisitions process, a number of working groups were set up to consider, assess and make recommendations on the specific capabilities of the replacement aircraft. A maritime working group was established, made up of members of the Air Corps, the Naval Service and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Agency, SFPA, who were involved in identifying and confirming the high-level requirements that the replacement aircraft should deliver. The maritime group made numerous recommendations, including the required range for various activities, surveillance, communication and navigation equipment and ground support facilities. The recommendations of the maritime working group and other stakeholders were taken into consideration in establishing the final high-level requirements for the aircraft.

Following a competitive tender competition, a contract was awarded to Airbus Defence and Space in December 2019 for delivery of two CASA C-295 maritime patrol aircraft in 2023 at a cost of some €228 million, inclusive of VAT. Both aircraft are now at an advanced stage of production with the first aircraft making its first flight in September 2022.

With regard to the operational requirements for maritime patrol aircraft and the requirements of the Naval Service, it is the case that the Naval Service, as the State's principal sea-going agency, is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The main day-to-day tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. It also carries out a number of other non-fishery related tasks in tandem with maritime surveillance and, as such, any Naval Service patrol should be viewed as a multifaceted activity. In terms of fishery protection, the Naval Service is tasked with patrolling all Irish waters from the shoreline to the outer limits of the exclusive economic zone, EEZ.

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