Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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33. To ask the Minister for Defence the position regarding the presence of asbestos on naval vessels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34575/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The discovery of Asbestos Containing Materials, commonly referred to as ACMs, on Naval Service ships is a matter that is being treated by the Department of Defence and the Naval Service with the upmost seriousness. In that regard, the safety and well-being of all individuals involved, both military and civilian, in the Naval Base is of primary concern. Over the period March 2014 to August 2014 Asbestos Containing Materials have been discovered to varying degrees on the following five Naval Service ships: LÉ Ciara, LÉ Orla, LÉ Aoife, LÉ Eithne and LÉ Aisling.

In each instance the Naval Service informed the Health and Safety Authority. The Health and Safety Authority issued an improvement notice under Regulation 17(1) Safety, Health and Welfare At Work (Exposure to Asbestos) Regulations, 2006 and I am advised that the Authority continues to monitor the situation closely.

The Naval Service is following a Fleet Asbestos Management Plan to meet the requirements of the HSA improvement notice. The Naval Service has now put in place rigorous control measures to ensure that all known Asbestos Containing Materials are rendered safe to avoid exposure of personnel to same. Additionally, medical concerns were and will continue to be addressed and a contracted civilian medical advisor on asbestos related illness has provided briefs to all staff. The Naval Service has also trained its personnel in Asbestos awareness and low risk removals of such materials as required.

As part of the Fleet Asbestos Management Plan the Naval Service has contracted an independent specialist company to survey all Naval Service Vessels for the presence of Asbestos Containing Materials. This survey commenced on 1st September 2014 and is anticipated to continue for a number of weeks. In addition, whenever Asbestos Containing Materials are suspected by Naval Service personnel to be present, a specialist advisor is contracted to investigate.

The position regarding the presence of asbestos on Naval Service ships is as follows LÉ Ciara and LÉ Orla are undergoing cleaning by a specialist Asbestos cleaning contractor which is due to be completed by the 6th October and the 12th December 2014 respectively. The Naval Service will have to seek a re-occupation certificate for both ships from the HSA when the cleaning is complete.

With regard to LÉ Aoife, LÉ Eithne and LÉ Aisling all identified Asbestos Containing Materials have been removed or rendered safe in accordance with HSA guidelines. No Asbestos Containing Materials have been discovered on the other three ships in the Naval Service fleet, LÉ Roisin, LÉ Niamh and the newest addition to the fleet LÉ Samuel Beckett.