Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

43. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Navy patrols cancelled or delayed because of staffing issues this year to date. [22910/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. 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. In terms of fishery 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.

Scheduled patrol days can be impacted by a range of factors including adverse weather conditions, unscheduled maintenance as well as staffing issues such as crewing shortages.

A total of 39 scheduled Naval Service patrol days have been cancelled due to staffing issues this year up to 30 April. This figure is inclusive of 12 cancelled planned patrol days for LÉ Róisín before she was placed in operational reserve with effect from 31 January, as a result of previously acknowledged recruitment and retention difficulties in the Naval Service, in particular for specialist positions.

Notwithstanding some challenges being experienced, the Naval Service continues to carry out the roles assigned by Government, including fishery protection and maritime surveillance operations.