Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
265. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the cost of acquiring each Samuel Beckett class ship; if related contracts provided for the acquisition of any further ships; if so, if such are still valid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28536/23]
View answerMy priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed.
Four new ships were delivered as part of the Naval Service Ship Replacement Programme, under the Samuel Beckett class, all were built by Babcock Marine in the United Kingdom. The contract with Babcock for the provision of the Samuel Beckett or P60 Class of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) for the Naval Service has now expired. The four ships, P61 LÉ Samuel Beckett, P62 LÉ James Joyce, P63 LÉ William Butler Years, P64 LÉ George B Shaw cost approximately €250 million in total and were commissioned in to service in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2019 respectively.
