Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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172. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he is satisfied that sufficient personnel trained to the appropriate standard, are available for Naval Service missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29536/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, 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 primary day to day tasking 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. The Naval Service continue to carry out a significant security role, which is vital to Ireland's national priorities and interests.

Given the unique and demanding nature of military life, there is a significant turnover of personnel in the Naval Service on an annual basis and in recent years the levels of departures have exceeded intakes. The Government has acknowledged these recruitment and retention issues and the fact that they are currently impacting on Naval Service operations. A range of actions have been taken to date to address these issues and further actions are currently under consideration.

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.

I am committed to ensuring that the personnel of the Naval Service and the Defence Forces as a whole, continue to be trained to best international standards.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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174. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which appropriate training has been made available to all members of the Defence Forces throughout the Army, Navy and Air Corps including the Army Reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29538/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The primary function of training in the Defence Forces is to develop and maintain the capabilities necessary to enable them to fulfil the roles laid down by Government.

The Defence Forces conduct training under four broad categories, namely; Leadership, Skills, Career, and Collective. Leadership Training is the medium through which the Defence Forces ensure that personnel are prepared for exercising command authority across the full range of military functions both at home and overseas in international operations. Skills Training ensures that Defence Forces personnel have the requisite individual, specialist, and crew skills. Career Training, and education, provides the organisation with the necessary pool of leaders and commanders at all levels. Collective Training allows military personnel to use their individual, crew, specialist and career training together, to develop integrated and coherent combat forces.

The scheduling of training in the Defence Forces, including the Reserve, is underpinned by an analysis of training required to meet operational output and capability development requirements. A long-term strategy is adopted with current planning horizons set out to 2021.

The Defence Forces seek to constantly benchmark training across all three arms of the organisation against best military and academic practice. Military best practice is ensured by implementing a policy of standardisation that is in line with EU and NATO/Partnership for Peace partners. Academic best practice is ensured by benchmarking courses through accreditation under the National Framework of Qualifications which is validated by Quality and Qualifications Ireland.

The Defence Forces deliver military programmes and modules meeting national and international standards and engage with external educational institutions in order to facilitate organisational learning. This engagement with national and international educational institutions, military and civilian, aims to ensure that the Defence Forces retain currency with regards to best international practice and employ all relevant modern training methods.

I remain committed to ensuring that all personnel of the Defence Forces continue to be trained to appropriate standards.