Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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358. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of aircraft handlers in the Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14303/20]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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359. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of aircraft handler posts vacant in the Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14304/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 358 and 359 together.

I am advised by the military authorities that there is no provision in the Naval Service establishment for aircraft handlers. The requirement for specific appointments in the Naval Service will be kept under review.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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360. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of the replacing of the LÉ Eithne; if a contract for the replacement of the vessel will be put out to tender in the second half of 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14305/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The White Paper on Defence sets out an ambitious programme of capital investment including mid-life refit and upgrade of the P50 class vessels, LÉ Róisín and LÉ Niamh, as well as, in due course, the replacement of LÉ Eithne. The P50 mid-life upgrade programme is well underway. The replacement of the flagship LÉ Eithne with a multi role vessel (MRV) is the next scheduled component of the White Paper fleet investment programme. 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 and the Equipment Development Plan (EDP) process. The EDP outlines that the MRV project is in planning ongoing stage within the indicative timeframe of 2020 to 2024.

Naturally, concurrent progression of all projects included in the White Paper is not possible within the capital funding envelope available to Defence, and as a result, some projects such as the replacement of LÉ Eithne are planned to commence later in the ten-year life-span of the White Paper. This project is being managed by a civil-military project team and work is ongoing on the pre-tender concept of operations stage and on preparing a detailed specification of capability requirements for a tender competition.