Written answers

Thursday, 27 January 2022

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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250. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the steps in hand or being taken to ensure the availability for service of all Naval Service vessels at all times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4191/22]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The main 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. In relation to fisheries protection, the Naval Service is tasked with patrolling all Irish waters from the shoreline to the outer limits of the Exclusive Economic Zone. These patrols are carried out on a regular and frequent basis and are directed to all areas of Irish waters as necessary. I am advised that the fleet is managed to ensure maximum availability to meet operational requirements.

On any given patrol day the Naval Service can carry out a number of taskings on behalf of other State agencies such as the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, An Garda Síochána and the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners.

At any one time the Naval Service can have a number of ships that are on active operations around the Irish EEZ whilst a number of others are undergoing routine resupply, maintenance and down time for ships companies.

The operational patrol profile of the ships cannot be discussed in detail due to the security implications to ongoing operations, however, Naval Operations Command operate a rotating patrol schedule to maintain a constant presence in the Irish EEZ.

The White Paper on Defence sets out an ambitious programme of capital investment in the Naval Service, including the mid-life refit and upgrade of the P50 class of vessels, and the replacement of the flagship LÉ Eithne with a multi-role vessel. The MRV, is an important element of the Defence Equipment Development Plan and is provided for in the Government's National Development Plan as a major capital project. It is the Government’s intention that this new vessel will provide a flexible and adaptive capability for a wide range of maritime tasks.

Projects for other vessel replacements , such as the replacement of the Coastal Patrol Vessels, the LÉ Ciara and LÉ Orla will being considered over the lifetime of the White Paper on Defence in the context of overall capability development and funding along with the overall Equipment Development Plan process. These ships will be replaced with similar sized vessels with countermine and counter-IED capabilities. This will provide an enhanced capability for the Naval Service in meeting a broad range of ongoing requirements and contingencies, including the protection of Ireland’s vital sea lanes of communication.

Current recruitment initiatives are aimed at increasing the number of available sailors within the Naval Service in order to restore the full fleet to operational status. The recruitment and retention of technical and non-technical personnel for the Naval Service is central to the ongoing Naval Service Regeneration plan. My focus is on returning the Naval Service to its full capacity.

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