Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

47. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when he will provide the Naval Service with the specialist equipment and resources it requires to properly patrol and protect Irish territorial waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30438/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure the operational capacity of the Naval Service, Air Corps and Army is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government, as set out in the White Paper on Defence. Equipment priorities for the Naval Service, Air Corps and Army are continuously considered in the context of the capability and equipment development planning processes.

There is a significant body of work currently underway to ensure that the Defence Forces have the required capabilities with equipment projects in various stages of the project lifecycle.

Both the Naval Service and Air Corps regularly monitor activity on Irish seas.

The Air Corps Maritime Patrol Squadron carries out aerial monitoring of the Irish EEZ. Two C295 maritime patrol aircraft equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance and communication equipment were delivered to the Air Corps in 2023 to replace the CASA CN235 aircraft. These aircraft considerably upgrade our surveillance capabilities.

More specifically in relation to the Naval Service, the Commission on the Defence Forces specifically recommended an accelerated programme of naval vessel replacement, to ensure a balanced fleet is reached by early in the next decade. This recommendation has been accepted in principle by Government and planning is currently underway that will inform next steps in this regard in line with the Infrastructure Guidelines.

In relation to the subsea domain, a programme of work has been approved as part of the overall Equipment Development plan. The first project within that programme which will see the Naval Service acquire sonar capability which will be used to enhance our subsea domain awareness and will contribute to the protection of subsea cables and pipelines.

A civil/military project team has made significant progress on this project and I intend to make an announcement regarding a contract for sonar equipment shortly.

This new acquisition will enhance awareness below the surface, contributing to the overall maritime picture available to Naval Service and the wider Defence Forces. This is a complex project and a new capability and work in training personnel and establishing the procedures and structures required will continue in the period up to the delivery and operationalisation of the system.

With the initial project reaching contract stage, subsequent phases will now be progressed.

Maritime radar forms part of the wider Military Radar Programme, which is underway following a recommendation by the Commission on the Defence Forces to develop of a primary radar capability to ensure that Ireland can maintain a complete ‘Recognised Air Picture’, and that this should be an immediate and top priority. Last year the Department of Defence commenced a consultation process with a wide range of countries, including all EU Member States, to ascertain the possible interest of each country in supporting Ireland with the delivery of these capabilities. I am pleased to say the Department received very positive responses and good progress is being made. At present, members of a high-level civil-military team are exploring options for delivery in more detail with a small number of countries and it is anticipated that this stage of the process will conclude later this year. While full delivery of the Programme will be complex, it has been prioritised. Elements of this capability will be rolled out in phases, we hope starting in 2026, towards full delivery by the end of 2028.