Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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576. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which the EU currently contributes towards the cost of maintaining air and sea surveillance along the Irish coast with particular reference to the position in the aftermath of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53188/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that funding is available to my Department to assist the Naval Service and the Air Corps in Control and Enforcement Activities from a fund overseen by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund 2014-2020.

As the Deputy may be aware, the Naval Service conducts routine maritime surveillance patrols throughout Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The primary day-to-day tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State’s fishery protection legislation and our obligations as a member of the European Union. In its fishery protection role, the Naval Service is committed to having at least three vessels on patrol at any one time. However, when on patrol Naval Service vessels are multi-tasked in the sense that they also undertake general surveillance, security and other duties.

Naval Service patrols are complemented by assistance provided by the Air Corps. The Air Corps’ Maritime Squadron carries out aerial surveillance within the Irish EEZ using the two CASA maritime patrol aircraft which were acquired in 1994 under the terms of the 1991 to 1995 Fishery Protection Programme. These aircraft are equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance and communication equipment which offers aerial assistance to the Naval Service. The EU has provided funding towards the cost of purchase and upgrade of these aircraft.

My officials together with the Naval Service and the Air Corps are working closely with the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), who are the competent authority on this matter, in relation to Brexit. However, the implications, as they relate to air and sea surveillance along the Irish Coast, of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union will depend on the manner in which, and under what circumstances the United Kingdom leaves the European Union.

The potential implications for fisheries protection and monitoring of Irish waters will emerge during the course of current negotiations. Accordingly, it is difficult at this stage to anticipate the implications including the impact on fishery protection requirements.