Written answers

Wednesday, 13 May 2020

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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14. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if funding will be provided for the replacement of the LÉ Ciara, LÉ Orla and LÉ Eithne during 2020. [5111/20]

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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My priority as Minister with Responsibility for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government both at home and overseas.

The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces remains a clear focus for me. Future equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are being considered in the context of the White Paper on Defence as part of the capability development and equipment priorities planning process. The principal aim over the period of the White Paper will be to replace and upgrade, as required, existing capabilities in order to retain a flexible response for a wide range of operational requirements, including response to security risks and other emergencies, both at home and overseas.

The capital allocation for Defence is €113 million for 2020, an increase of €7 million on National Development Plan 2019 allocation. The NDP - Project Ireland 2040 - provides financial allocations for a total of €541 million for Defence over the period 2018-2022. This level of capital funding will allow the Defence Organisation to undertake a programme of sustained equipment replacement and infrastructural development across the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as identified and prioritised in the Defence White Paper and builds on the significant investment programme over recent years.

The White Paper underpins the ongoing replacement of the Naval Service fleet. A significant investment over recent years has been on the procurement of new Off-Shore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) for the Naval Service. The fourth ship in the programme, LÉ George Bernard Shaw, was commissioned into service in May 2019 reflecting an investment by the Government of over €250 million in the new ships programme since 2010. The four ships are performing well in operational service.

Along with the LÉ Eithne, the LÉ Ciara was built in 1984, while the LÉ Orla was built in 1985. Currently the LÉ Orla is in reserve. At the end of 2019 LÉ Ciara underwent a planned annual dry-docking and is again operational. As a result of the White Paper commitment to vessel replacement, the replacement of the flagship LÉ Eithne with a multi role vessel (MRV) is the immediate White Paper project in this context. Projects for other vessel replacement will be considered over the life-time of the White Paper in the context of overall capability development and funding.

I am satisfied that the Defence Forces have the necessary resources available to them, including a modern and effective range of equipment which is line with best international standards in order to fulfil all roles assigned to them by Government.

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