Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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129. To ask the Minister for Defence if the €54 million price for a new ship, as recently announced, is included in his Department's capital budget up to 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30408/14]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I recently announced that an order has been placed with Babcock Marine for the 3^rdOffshore Patrol Vessel for the Naval Service. By taking up this option under the existing contract, the Department ensured that the third ship will be bought at 2012 prices and will not be index linked. This means that the vessel replacement programme is conducted in the most cost effective manner. As with the purchase of the L.É. Samuel Beckett and the L.É. James Joyce, the purchase of the third vessel will be met within the Defence Vote. The third vessel will be delivered in 2016.

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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130. To ask the Minister for Defence if his Department has investigated the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for patrolling Irish territorial waters rather than capital and labour intensive ships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30409/14]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Defence Forces currently operate an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System, (UAV) as an information-gathering asset which has no offensive capability. The UAV systems were acquired to enhance the capability of the Defence Forces to provide a low cost and low risk means to increase surveillance capabilities and intelligence gathering.

A Defence Forces naval vessel replacement strategy has been in progress since 2007. This investment strategy was underscored by the commitment in the 2000 White Paper on Defence to ensure an eight ship flotilla. 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 ongoing use and capabilities of unmanned aerial vehicles is kept under review by the Defence Forces as to how they enhance and support military operations in a cost effective manner.

The forthcoming White Paper on Defence will address the future capability requirements for the Defence Forces encompassing the Army, Air Corps and the Naval Service.