Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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145.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the average lifespan remaining of each of the military ships within the Naval Service that have been in the Naval Service fleet over 20 years, in tabular form. [31693/24]

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 and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities (including replacement capabilities as they near end of life) for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment Development Planning (EDP) processes. Further additions to the EDP are kept under consideration, including in the context of the Government’s decision to move to Level of Ambition 2 (LOA2), in light of specific recommendations made in the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.

Capital investment in the Naval Service Vessel Renewal and Replacement Programme is ongoing. The programme of works for the midlife refit and upgrade of Lé Róisín has been completed, while works are nearing completion on Lé Niamh. Marine Advisors have been appointed to support the procurement of a multi-role vessel to replace the now decommissioned flagship, Lé Eithne, with work underway that will inform a public tender competition, in line with the Public Spending Code, in due course.

Two Inshore Patrol Vessels purchased from the New Zealand Government to replace the decommissioned Lé Orla and Lé Ciara were delivered to the Naval Base in Haulbowline in 2023. Lé Aoibhinn (P71) is currently undergoing assessment for Initial Operational Capability. The deployment of Lé Gobnait (P72) will follow the completion of the works on board Lé Aoibhinn.

The service life of an Irish Naval Service ship is determined by the level of operational activity. It is, however, normal practice in a ship’s life to carry out a Mid-Life Extension Programme so as to extend the useful life of a ship to thirty or more years. There are only 2 ships which have been in the Naval Service fleet for more than 20 years, Lé Róisín and Lé Niamh, which have been in service since 1999 and 2001 respectively. As outlined above, a Mid Life Extension Programme has been carried out on these vessels which will see their service life extended to at least 2029 (Lé Róisín) and 2031 (Lé Niamh) based on a life extension to thirty years.

I am satisfied that the Defence Forces, including the Naval Service, have the necessary modern and effective range of equipment available to them which is in line with best international standards in order to fulfil all roles assigned to them by Government.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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146.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Naval Service personnel sent to the US for specialist Naval Service training in 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [32293/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the military authorities that the number of Naval Service personnel sent to the US for specialist Naval Service training during the requested period is as follows: