Naval Service Patrols.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2004

Wednesday, 17 November 2004

Questions (52, 53, 54)

Simon Coveney

Question:

79 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Defence the role of the Naval Service with respect to assisting the civil power in the fight against the illegal importation of drugs. [28753/04]

Richard Bruton

Question:

102 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Defence the number of vessels within the Naval Service; the number that are on permanent duty at any given time in policing the coastline and protecting against drug smuggling operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28769/04]

Simon Coveney

Question:

107 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Defence the number of fishing patrol vessels possessed by the Naval Service; the estimated remaining life of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28752/04]

Written answers

Minister for Defence (Mr. O’Dea)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 79, 102 and 107 together.

The Naval Service is equipped with a total of eight vessels comprising one helicopter-carrying vessel, five offshore patrol vessels and two coastal patrol vessels. The nominal life of a naval vessel is approximately 30 years, although this can be extended or reduced depending on circumstances and usage. The type and age of each of the vessels is set out in the attached schedule.

The main day to day role 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. The Naval Service is committed to having at least three vessels on patrol within the Irish exclusive economic zone at any one time. The service is tasked with patrolling all Irish waters from the shoreline to the outer limits of the exclusive economic zone, the 200 mile limit.

Fishery protection activity accounts for over 90% of all Naval Service patrol time. However, as the need arises, Naval Service vessels may be deployed to other duties such as aid to the civil power, search and rescue, drug interdiction operations and assistance with pollution control.

Responsibility for the prevention of drug trafficking and other such illegal activities rests primarily with the Garda Síochána and the Revenue Commissioners. However, the White Paper on Defence provides for a security role for the Naval Service to assist and support the civil authorities in this important work. Government measures to improve law enforcement in relation to drugs, including the establishment in 1993 of a joint task force involving the Garda, the Customs Service and the Naval Service, have helped to maximise the effective use of Naval Service resources in combating drug trafficking, etc. There is close co-operation between the civil authorities and the Naval Service in this important area.

A key target of the Naval Service has been to increase annual patrol days in line with the recommendations of the PriceWaterhouse report in 1998. I am happy to report that in the last four years to end 2003, the number of annual patrol days has increased by approximately 35%. The target for 2004 is 1,600 patrol days, which will represent a further improvement on the 2003 output of 1,496. The increase in Naval Service output has enabled it to deliver increased levels of service across all areas of its operations.

Type and age of Naval Service vessels.

Vessel	Type	Age	Estimated Remaining Life*
LE Emer	Offshore Patrol Vessel	26 years	4 years
LE Aoife	Offshore Patrol Vessel	25 years	5 years
LE Aisling	Offshore Patrol Vessel	24 years	6 years
LE Eithne	Helicopter Patrol Vessel	20 years	10 years
LE Ciara	Coastal Patrol Vessel	20 years	10 years
LE Orla	Coastal Patrol Vessel	19 years	11 years
LE Róisín	Offshore Patrol Vessel	4 years	26 years
LE Niamh	Offshore Patrol Vessel	3 years	27 years

* Based on a notional life of 30 years.