David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 317: To ask the Minister for Defence the availability of each of the naval service vessels in 2007, 2008 and 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35194/10]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Minister for Defence (Mr. Tony Killeen, T.D.): The information the Deputy has requested is set out in the table below.

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, which are involved in coastal and offshore patrolling and surveillance for the State in that part of the seas where State jurisdiction applies. The current Exclusive Fisheries Limits extend to 200 miles offshore and cover an area of 132,000 nautical 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 Naval Service has a concurrent multi-functional role as the State's primary seagoing agency, and 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 Authority, An Garda Síochána and the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners.

Each year, the Naval Service commits approximately 85-90 of its annual patrol days to foreign deployments. Locations are considered on the basis of the optimum yield that can be derived for Ireland. An Irish naval vessel is considered sovereign Irish territory regardless of its location, and therefore a ship affords rare promotional opportunities for state agencies such as Enterprise Ireland, An Bord Bia and the IDA to support Irish industry and services. In the current economic climate, promoting Ireland to business communities abroad has assumed added importance. This year, L.E. Niamh undertook a voyage to South America, visiting Mexico, Argentina, Colombia and Chile. This visit to South America provided a unique opportunity to highlight the fact that Ireland is open for business.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 318: To ask the Minister for Defence the date on which the sail-training vessel, the [i]Asgard[/i], sank; the amount of money made available to Coiste an Asgard in 2009; the way that this money was expended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35195/10]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The sail training vessel Asgard II sank in the Bay of Biscay on 11 September 2008. Grant-in-Aid in the sum of €800,000 was made available to Coiste an Asgard in the year 2009. Total expenditure for the year amounted to €353,877 of which €280,200 was allocated to salaries for crew and office staff. The balance was expended on other miscellaneous costs. It was intended to construct a replacement vessel; however, that plan was cancelled when the Government decided to discontinue the National Sail Training Scheme in December 2009. As a result of that decision, the sum of €3.8m representing the insured value of Asgard II was transferred to the Department of Finance as Exchequer Extra Receipts. Coiste an Asgard is now in the process of being wound up and all residual matters are being handled by the Department of Defence.