Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Defence the extent of the patrolling area under the responsibility of the Naval Service; the patrol vessel concentration for this area; the patrol vessel concentration for other EU states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23985/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Naval Service provides the maritime element of the Defence Forces and has a general responsibility to meet contingent and actual maritime defence requirements.

The Naval Service operates eight general-purpose patrol ships. All eight ships are involved in coastal and offshore patrolling and surveillance 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.

The main day to day role 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. The Service is tasked with patrolling all Irish waters from the shoreline to the outer limits of the Exclusive Fishery Limits.

The current Exclusive Fishery Limits extend to 200 miles offshore and cover an area of 132,000 square miles. The Naval Service currently patrols the entire 200 mile limit and periodically patrols beyond these limits to protect specific fisheries. These patrols are carried out on a regular and frequent basis and are directed to all areas of Irish waters as necessary. The number of Patrol Vessels on patrol in Irish waters at any one time varies between three and seven. The Naval Service is committed to having at least three vessels on patrol within the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone at any one time.

Fishery protection patrols are complemented by assistance provided by the Air Corps in the form of aerial surveillance by the two Casa maritime patrol aircraft. Fishery protection activity accounts for over 90% of all Naval Service patrol time and more or less all of the Maritime Squadron's output.

The operational targeting of the fishery protection effort is coordinated with the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in accordance with procedures set down in the Service Level Agreement between the Departments. Such targeting takes account of previous history of fishing, infringements, sightings, fishing zones, closed areas and species and allocated quotas, amongst other things. There is a comprehensive process in place to identify and agree patrol plans and inspection targets. The objective in all cases is the protection of the fishing assets of the State.

The patrol vessel concentration for other EU States is a matter for the individual member states.