Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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118. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the amount of time he envisages the LE Róisín and LE Niamh will remain in operational reserve due to staffing shortages; and if the staff shortages in the naval service will affect the deployment of the two new ships due to arrive from New Zealand in the coming months. [5048/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As a result of previously acknowledged recruitment and retention difficulties in the Naval Service, in particular for specialist positions, the Naval Service has concluded that the LE Roisin should be placed into operational reserve with effect from 31 January 2023 and that the LE Niamh should be placed into operational reserve on completion of its mid-life refit later this year. They will remain in operational reserve until such time the Naval Service has sufficiently regenerated suitably qualified and experienced personnel.

The decision to place the LE Roisin and LE Niamh into operational reserve is aimed at stabilising operational delivery and assisting in Naval Service regeneration which entails the prioritisation of personnel training and development of existing NS personnel.

The Defence Forces and the Department of Defence are currently engaged in significant efforts across a wide range of initiatives which when taken holistically aim to have the desired effect of addressing the challenges facing the Naval Service.

Two Inshore Patrol Vessels have been purchased from the New Zealand Government to replace the decommissioned LÉ Orla and LÉ Ciara. These vessels are undergoing an extensive programme of works in New Zealand and following completion of works it is planned that they will be transported to Ireland later this year. Once delivered to Ireland, a plan will be developed to achieve initial operating capability for the IPV’s.