Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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87. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he is satisfied that there are sufficient trained personnel at each rank and skillset in order to ensure that the Naval Service core objective of coastal protection is sufficiently carried out. [47823/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. While the main day to day role of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union it also carries out a number of other non-fishery related tasks.

I want to pay tribute to the significant security role which the Naval Service routinely carries out. By its nature, often that security role goes unrecognised or unacknowledged, but it is vital to Ireland's national priorities and interests.

In relation to its sea-fishery protection role, the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 established the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) as the competent Authority for securing efficient and effective enforcement of sea fisheries protection legislation and the sustainable exploitation of marine fish resources from the waters around Ireland.

A Service Level Agreement is in place which underpins the relationship between the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the Defence Organisation. This Agreement provides for the development of an Annual Control Plan and for agreed reporting and training arrangements. The agreement also provides a forum for sharing information between parties and for dealing with fisheries' control and enforcement issues.

In accordance with this Agreement, the 2018 Annual Control Plan states a target range of between 1,090 and 1,267 patrol days. The lower figure reflects a Naval Service presence in the Mediterranean with the upper figure in place in instances if a Naval Service vessel does not deploy to the Mediterranean.

The Naval Service has an establishment of 1,094 personnel with a current strength at approximately 92%. The breakdown by rank is set out in the following table.

I am advised that the Naval Service has a comprehensive in house system of training across all ranks, delivered through the Naval College. This is supplemented in relation to the training of apprentices and Marine Engineers as required through other academic institutions. This holistic approach to training ensures that personnel have the necessary skill set to deliver the broad range of services that the Naval Service provides to the State and internationally as required.