Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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39. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the measures that are being taken to ensure that there is suitable aircraft available to Irish Air Corps to provide sufficient surveillance of Russian aircraft and ships in the Irish EEZ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22886/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government, both at home and overseas.

The Air Corps Maritime Patrol Squadron, working in conjunction with the Naval Service, patrol the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) using the two CASA CN 235 maritime patrol aircraft which are equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance and communication equipment. The programme for the supply of two C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft is nearing completion with delivery of the aircraft expected this year at a cost of some €228 million inclusive of VAT. These aircraft will feature updated and upgraded equipment to ensure that the Air Corps can continue to deliver the required capability required of an island country.

In addition, four Pilatus PC-12 aircraft have been purchased for the Air Corps in recent years. The PC-12 aircraft are capable of carrying out a wide variety of roles including the Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) role providing a substantially increased capability with their state of the art surveillance technology.

The Air Corps is not currently equipped to monitor and communicate with aircraft overflying Irish airspace, military or otherwise. However, on a routine basis the Air Corps monitors and communicates with foreign military aircraft where such aircraft are flying in the airspace in the vicinity of Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, where air traffic control is provided by the Defence Forces.

AirNav Ireland (formerly part of the IAA) exercises Air Traffic Control responsibilities for both sovereign airspace and also airspace over the high seas, largely off the western seaboard. All air traffic, both civil and military, is monitored and controlled by AirNav Ireland in respect of this airspace and in line with ICAO rules it is normal practice for them to be informed by the relevant State of any military flights operating in Irish controlled airspace.

The Deputy may wish to note that the development of a primary radar capability was one of the recommendations made in the report of the Commission of the Defence Forces last year, and in response to that, a project team, comprising senior civil and military personnel, has commenced work on planning for military radar capabilities. This includes ground based, maritime and primary radar systems. Delivery of primary radar is extremely complex and will take some time to deliver. However, delivery has been prioritised by Government and this year’s increased capital allocation for Defence includes funding to explore the development of a primary radar capability.