Written answers

Thursday, 4 February 2021

Photo of Gerald NashGerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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101. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of ships in the Naval Service that are operationally ready to put to sea if required; the uptake of the new loyalty scheme which offers a bonus of up to €10,000 over four years for seagoing duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6127/21]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Naval Service has nine ships. In July 2019, the Naval Service reduced its operational flotilla to six ships, placing two ships on operational pause, while a third ship entered a mid-life re-fit programme. A fire onboard the LÉ Niamh last October has impacted on the ship’s availability for operations from Q4 last year. There are 5 operational ships that remain available at present.  It is expected that the LÉ Roisín will come back into operation following her mid-life re-fit during the first half of the year. 

For operational and security reasons, it would not be appropriate to disclose details of the operational deployment of any individual vessel now or in the future.

The Naval Service Sea-going Service Commitment Scheme was introduced with effect from 1st January 2021. It is targeted at retaining and incentivising Permanent Defence Force (PDF) personnel of the Naval Service  who have accrued an appropriate level of service and experience. It is one of a number of measures aimed at addressing retention issues in the Naval service.

The Scheme is not intended to encompass all sea-going personnel, solely those with the requisite experience levels. In this context, in order to be eligible for the Scheme, personnel must have 3 years’ service in the rank of Able rating or above, or Ensign and above, and to be serving in a sea-going appointment. 

The Scheme requires individuals to give an undertaking to serve for an aggregate of 24 months at sea andundertake a minimum number of patrol days (240) during the sea-going periods, over a maximum 48 month reference period. Individuals are required to undertake a minimum of 60 patrol days in each 6 month sea-going period to qualify for staged payments. The payment for the entire service committment is €10,000.

All applicants at the time of application must be commencing/undertaking sea-going duties and commit to the service undertalking. The military authorities have advised me that, to date, seventy one (71) applications for the Sea Going Service Commitment Scheme are being processed. The Scheme remains open to further applicants as they commence their sea-going rotation.

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