asked the Minister for Defence the number on active service in the Navy; and the number of civil servants in his Department to deal with their affairs.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Naval Service.
36.
The number of personnel of the permanent Defence Force serving in the Naval Service on 31st March, 1967, was 403.
It would not be practicable to segregate the number of civil servants in my Department dealing with their affairs.
Why? Are they not paid officials? Surely to goodness the Minister must have an idea of the number of civil servants who control over 400 sea-going men on a corvette and a half?
The Minister has enough civil servants to provide him with that information.
There are five clerks on the civilian establishment at the naval base at Haulbowline and two members of the Civil Service staff of the Department of Defence are engaged there on duties with the Naval Service. Other civil servants in the Department deal with Naval Service matters as part of their work.
Could we not get the number of the others that are engaged in supervising over 400 men on a corvette and a half because that is what we have?
I gave the number that are engaged fulltime.
Next question.
37.
asked the Minister for Defence the number of ships in the Naval Service; and the area which they patrol.
The Naval Service has three corvettes. At present only two of these are operational at any one time and are used to patrol an area of 15,136 square miles on fishery protection duties.
One and a half.
Does that include the Asgard?
No.