asked the Minister for Defence (1) if he will outline the progress being made towards the acquisition of the new sail training vessel, including the dates of ordering, laying down, and its expected entry into service; (2) the future proposals for the existing sail training vessel; and (3) if he will indicate how the committee who organise sail training is operated giving details of its membership, relation to the naval service, etc.
Written Answers. - Naval Service Sail Training Vessel.
131.
The contract for the construction, over a period of about three years, of the sail training vessel to be named “Asgard II”, was placed on 9 January 1978. The keel was laid on 26 April 1979, and the vessel was launched on 19 January 1981. It will be named and commissioned as a sail training vessel on 6 March 1981 and will thereafter be used for the purposes of the sail training scheme.
In accordance with the decision of the Government, the vesel “Creidne”. Which was purchased to enable the sail training scheme to be continued pending the construction of “Asgard II”, will be assigned to An Slua Muirí for use as a training vessel when “Asgard II”, is ready for commissioning.
The committee known as Coiste An Asgard, under which the sail training scheme is operated, receives the funds necessary for its operation from a grant-in-aid from the Vote for Defence. The Minister for Defence is Chairman of An Coiste and the other members are: Mr. L. Breewood, Mr. J. Byrne, Mr. J. Clayton Love, Mr. P. Greer, Commodore P. Kavanagh, Mr. L. McGonagle, Mr. C. J. McGrath, Commodore W. Moloney, Mr. J. Tyrrell, Mr. P. Ó hEadhra (Secretary).
Apart from Mr. McGrath, an officer of the Department of Fisheries and Forestry, Commodore Moloney, Flag Officer commanding the Naval Service and the secretary of An Coiste who is an officer of the Department of Defence, the other members named above are experienced yachtsmen. Commodore Moloney's membership is the only involvement of the Naval Service with An Coiste.