Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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134. To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which Army road and off-road vehicles continue to be upgraded in order to ensure reliability in the event of emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53317/13]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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135. To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which Air Corps aircraft and equipment are regularly replaced and-or upgraded in line with requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53318/13]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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136. To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which all Naval Service vessels continue to be improved, upgraded or replaced as necessary to ensure reliability in the event of an emergency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53319/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 to 136, inclusive, together.

In the current economic situation, the acquisition of equipment for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service takes place on a strictly prioritised basis to ensure that the Defence Forces can carry out their roles at home and overseas.

In recent years, a number of vehicle purchases took place which included minibuses, standard patrol vehicles and mid-coaches for troop transportation. The main acquisitions for 2013 were four tractor units, four 4x4 ambulances, four transit crew cabs, one 52 seater coach, five Ford Ranger 4 x 4 vehicles, twenty transit stores vans and a number of fork-lifts and recovery trailers. In addition, funding is provided on a continuous basis for the required maintenance of vehicles in the military transport fleet.

With regard to the Naval Service, a contract for the provision of two new ships was placed with Babcock Marine, UK in October, 2010. The first ship to be named LE Samuel Beckett is scheduled for delivery in March 2014; the second will be delivered in early 2015. This vessel replacement strategy combined with a continuous process of refurbishment and repair will ensure that the operational capability of the Naval Service is maintained at a satisfactory level. The acquisition of these new vessels with the very latest equipment suites will ensure that the Naval Service will be fully equipped to carry out its day to day roles in enforcing the State’s sovereign rights over our waters and our fisheries and meeting Ireland’s obligations in the area of maritime safety and security and fisheries protection.

The equipment and aircraft available to the Air Corps are of a high standard and are maintained by the Air Corps in accordance with best practice. There is no provision for the acquisition of new aircraft for the Air Corps in 2013. However, a significant level of investment in new equipment for the Air Corps took place in recent years. The investment programme included the delivery of Pilatus training aircraft, the acquisition of two light utility EC 135 and six utility AW 139 helicopters and a mid life upgrade on the two CASA maritime patrol aircraft. Expenditure in the Air Corps for 2013 relates to the maintenance and Power by the Hour contracts set up to keep the fleet operational and to maintenance on the CASA aircraft.