Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 934: To ask the Minister for Defence the funding which has been allocated for the building of new offshore patrol vessels; when construction will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33856/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department's Vote for 2009 includes an amount of €5m which has been allocated towards the purchase of new Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Naval Service.

This funding has been ear-marked as a down-payment to be made upon the signing of a contract with the preferred bidder who emerged following a recent tender competition organised by my Department.

The Naval Vessel Replacement Programme will be considered as part of the Estimates and budgetary process for 2010. A contract cannot be signed until Government approval has been granted.

Subject to a Government decision on the matter, I would anticipate that the construction of the new vessels would commence a number of months after a contract is signed.