Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 512: To ask the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied that the Naval Service is adequately resourced to deal with illegal fishing within Irish waters. [25444/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has policy responsibility for sea fisheries protection, and the Naval Service provides 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. At present, fishery protection activity accounts for roughly 90% of all Naval Service patrol time. The number of Naval 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. In 2006, the Naval Service achieved an output of 1,658 patrol days, which represents an average of 207 patrol days achieved per vessel.

It is my intention to maintain the established Government policy of ongoing and proactive recruitment to the Defence Forces. Recruitment into the Naval Service will continue to maintain the strength at the level set out in the White Paper as required to meet all Naval Service tasks including Fishery Protection duties.

The White Paper provides that "new vessels will be brought on stream to replace older ones as these fall due for replacement". Naval Service vessels are replaced when they have come to the end of their useful life, which is normally around 30 years. Three ships will fall due for replacement over the next 3 to 5 years. Following a detailed examination of the needs of the Naval Service, a vessel replacement strategy has been put in place to cover the period up to 2012. The vessel replacement strategy combined with a continuous process of refurbishment will ensure that the operational capability of the Naval Service is maintained at a very high level.

I am satisfied that the Naval Service is fully resourced, on an on-going basis, to meet all its operational requirements.