Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 459: To ask the Minister for Defence the inventory of the ships in the naval service's possession and at its disposal including the specifications, capacity and general functions of same; and if he will make a statement outlining intentions to purchase more ships including the envisaged specifications, capacity and general functions of same. [17071/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Naval Service operates eight general purpose patrol ships. The details of the ships are in the form of a tabular statement which follows. All eight ships are fitted with primary and secondary armament. The Primary armament ranges from 40 mm to 76 mm and secondary armament ranges from 12.5 mm to 20 mm.

The ships are involved in coastal and offshore patrolling and surveillance by maintaining a Naval and Maritime service for the State in that part of the seas where State jurisdiction applies such as Internal Waters, Territorial Sea and the Irish Sector of the Exclusive Economic Zone and on the high seas. They are the maritime element of defence. The ships operate with the Army and Air Corps to provide national defence services. The functions performed by these ships and the services provided, other than in the Military and Security areas, include Fishery Protection, which makes up 90% of the routine operational tasking of the Naval Service.

In the White Paper on Defence, the Government decided that the Naval Service will be developed around the provision of an eight-ship flotilla. In recent years, two new ships have been delivered to the Naval Service and the Service is operating with the recommended eight ships. The total cost of the two ships was €50m. Both ships have proved to be tremendous assets to the Naval Service in carrying out its various day-to-day roles.

There is a continuous process of refurbishment of the current fleet. Through a combination of improved support/operational systems and equipment and ongoing maintenance, the operational capability of the Naval Service is maintained at a very high level.

The replacement programme for Naval Service vessels is under continuous review. As a general guide, the objective would be to replace vessels after approximately 30 years of service. On this basis, two vessels would be due for replacement in the period 2007 to 2009. This issue is currently under examination and I expect it will be submitted to me for decision later this year.