Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Defence the tasks carried out by the Naval Service within the revised patrol patterns for the first quarter of 2010. [15616/10]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the Estimates process for 2010, the Department sought to implement measures which would bring about the savings or the equivalent thereof as identified in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programme. As part of this process and to achieve a reduction in current expenditure, the Minister for Defence proposed a cut to the Naval Service patrol days in 2010. The planned number of patrol days for 2010 is 1,480.

The Naval Service has a concurrent multi functional role as the State's primary sea going agency. On any given patrol day the Naval Service can carry out a number of taskings on behalf of other state agencies such as the Sea Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA), an Garda Síochána and the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners.

Actual patrol days for the first quarter of 2010 totalled 353 days. Within this, 21 patrols were commenced, and a range of taskings were undertaken and services provided. Fishery protection operations included the inspection and boarding of 408 fishing vessels, and the detention of 2 fishing vessels. The Naval Service provided aid to the civil authorities for 2 Search and Rescue operations during the first quarter of 2010, and was involved in 4 military exercises in conjunction with the Army. A Naval Service ship was also involved in a collaborative research project with University College Cork Coastal Marine Research Centre while on patrol.

The taskings undertaken by the Naval Service in any given period of time are dependent on a number of factors, including the number and type of ship available, the prevailing weather conditions, the time of year, and the demand for non fishery protection services. I am fully confident that the Naval Service will continue to meet all taskings assigned to them within the revised patrol pattern for 2010.