Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 January 2022
254. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which all seagoing and military equipment in the Naval Service is being upgraded and updated in line with requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4195/22]
View answerEquipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the lifetime of the White Paper on Defence as part of the capability development and Equipment Development Planning (EDP) process.
In this context, the principal aim over the period of the White Paper is to replace and upgrade, as required, capabilities in order to retain a flexible response for a wide range of operational requirements at home and overseas.
The White Paper on Defence sets out an ambitious programme of capital investment in the Naval Service including the mid-life refit and upgrade of the P50 class vessels, LÉ Róisín and LÉ Niamh, as well as the replacement of LÉ Eithne. The P50 mid-life upgrade programme is well underway, with the return to operations of LÉ Róisín and works are ongoing on LÉ Niamh.
The replacement of the flagship LÉ Eithne with a multi-role vessel, MRV, is an important element of the EDP and is provided for in the Government's NDP as a major capital project. It is the intention that this new vessel will provide a flexible and adaptive capability for a wide range of maritime tasks. Following a public tender competition, Marine Advisors have been appointed to support the procurement of the MRV. This work is now underway and will inform a public tender competition in due course.
Projects for other vessel replacements and equipment for the Naval Service are being considered in the context of overall capability development and funding along with the overall EDP process.
The Government established an independent Commission on the Defence Forces in December 2020. The work of the Commission encompasses the consideration of appropriate capabilities, structures and staffing and their report will inform decisions regarding the the future development of the Defence Forces.
