Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

581. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Naval Service ship, LE Aisling is stood down; if so, if he has determined a future plan for the ship to be retained in the ownership of the State; if it is intended to move the vessel to another port or whether the ship will be sold, leased or gifted to a third party or State; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that maintenance costs may be increasing due to depreciation. [36276/16]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I attended the ceremony held in Galway in June 2016 to mark the decommissioning of LÉ Aisling, following 36 years of outstanding service to the State. The proud record of the ship in operational service with the Naval Service was duly recognised and the range of activities which the ship was involved in was recalled and commended.

There are a number of recognised methods for disposing of a ship which has reached the end of its effective or economic service life within the Naval Service. Options available include the donation, or sale for re-use by way of public auction, which allows for the refurbishment and reuse of a vessel by a secondary party. Such uses can include operational restoration for further life as a ship, or vessel reutilisation as a museum. Indeed the possibility of donating a vessel as a museum or visitor attraction arose in connection with the disposals of the formerLÉ Emerand the formerLÉ Aoife.

However, the former LÉ Emerwas disposed of in 2013 by way of public auction, and €320,000 was realised by the Exchequer in this regard. In 2015, the former LÉ Aoifewas transferred to the ownership of the Maltese Armed Forces on humanitarian grounds following a request from the Maltese authorities, to endeavour to deal with the ongoing refugee crisis in the region.

The question of using the former LÉ Aislingas a visitor attraction in Galway City has been raised with me and is under consideration. I am advised that given the age, size, structure and layout of Naval Service vessels that they are considered rather unsuitable for conversion to use as museums or visitor attractions. Many issues arise in connection with the conversion of vessels into visitor attractions. This is because a vessel requires ongoing protection measures to affect the physical condition of the vessel to defend it, to stabilise the structural integrity of the vessel, and to guard it from deterioration. A vessel must be kept structurally sound, weather resistant and watertight and this requires the availability of materials and competent personnel with requisite skills and expertise to carry out work, at a significant cost. There are other significant costs for the recipient associated with a donation of this type, such as health and safety issues and insurance liabilities and risks.

The former LÉ Aisling is currently being stored on water at berthage facilities at the Naval Base in Haulbowline, County Cork. Given the pressures on berthage infrastructure and the cost of maintenance on the vessel, the most cost effective and responsible approach will have to be taken into consideration in informing my decision on this matter. I will be concluding my approach on the disposal of the formerLÉ Aisling very shortly, and I will take all of these matters into account.