Written answers
Monday, 9 September 2024
Department of Defence
Naval Service
Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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150.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when the LÉ Aoibhinn will be fully operationally deployed; the number of crew that will be required for each deployment; the seas that it will be deployed in; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[34188/24]
Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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151.To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when the LÉ Gobnait will be fully operationally deployed; the number of crew that will be required for each deployment; the seas that it will be deployed in; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[34189/24]
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 151 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, both the LÉ Aoibhinn and LÉ Gobnait were commissioned into State Service on Wednesday 04 September 2024.
Naval Service personnel have concentrated all necessary resources on bringing the L.É. Aoibhinn into operational service over the past six months. This has included learning from the considerable knowledge and experience of the Royal New Zealand Navy Reserve, members of which previously served aboard the ships while in New Zealand, in order to acquire the high level of skills required to crew this new class of ship.
The L.É. Aoibhinn achieved Initial Operational Capability in July 2024 and has been undertaking patrols in the Irish Sea ever since. The L.É. Aoibhinn will reach Full Operational Capability before year end 2024. The IPVs have a crewing requirement of 26 personnel to fully crew each ship.
Vital information has been gathered and learned in the process of bringing the L.É. Aoibhinn to its current level of operational capability. This process will be utilised to ensure that the L.É. Gobnait will be brought into operational service as soon as possible.
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