Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
159. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline what progress has been made on the procurement of multi-beam sonar-echo sounder for the P60 class; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36262/23]
View answerMy priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure the operational capacity of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government, as set out in the White Paper on Defence. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are being considered in the context of the lifetime of the White Paper on Defence as part of the capability development and equipment development planning process.
There is a significant body of work currently underway to ensure that the Defence Forces have the required capabilities with equipment projects in various stages of the project lifecycle.
I am advised that the procurement process for a multi-beam sonar system for the P60 class of vessels is well advanced and is currently at the tender evaluation stage of a public procurement competition, with the intention to award a contract in the near future.
