Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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139. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he is satisfied that sufficient personnel, trained to the appropriate standard, are available for Naval Service missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42358/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The main 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 relation to fisheries protection, the Naval Service is tasked with patrolling all Irish waters from the shoreline to the outer limits of the Exclusive Economic Zone.

On any given patrol day the Naval Service can carry out a number of taskings on behalf of other State agencies such as the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, An Garda Síochána and the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners.

As the Deputy is aware, as one of the recommendations from the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, Government approved a move, over a six-year period, to a level of Permanent Defence Force capability equivalent to Level of Ambition 2. This will require an additional 2,000 personnel by 2028, including a civilian component, beyond the 9,500 establishment figure that was in place at the time of the Commission’s report.

While induction numbers fluctuate from year to year, Budget 2025 allocated a record €1.35 billion for the Defence Sector - an increase of €100 million compared to Budget 2024. This included a provision for the recruitment and training of a net additional 400 personnel in 2025. I have fully acknowledged the current staffing challenges in the Defence Forces, which are most acute in the Naval Service, and work is ongoing to counter these. A range of recruitment measures, along with financial and non-financial retention incentives which include significant progress on pay and allowances, have been implemented to address such challenges

The Naval Service has a comprehensive in house system of training across all ranks, delivered through the Naval College. This is supplemented in relation to the training of apprentices and Marine Engineers as required through other academic institutions. This holistic approach to training ensures that personnel have the necessary skill set to deliver the broad range of services that the Naval Service provides to the State and internationally as required.

I am committed to ensuring that the personnel of the Naval Service and the Defence Forces as a whole, continue to be trained to best international standards.