Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 December 2023
147. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of Naval Service operations and patrols scheduled and cancelled in each of the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 to date, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53455/23]
View answerThe Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The primary day-to-day tasking 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. These patrols are carried out on a regular and frequent basis and are directed to all areas of Irish waters as necessary.
The Naval Service has recently adopted a three ship operational posture with two ships operational and another ship on standby. The decision to reduce the number of operational ships was made as a result of the previously acknowledged recruitment and retention difficulties in the Naval Service, in particular for specialist positions. This strategic decision has been taken in order to streamline operations, bolster existing capabilities, and ensure optimal resource allocation in the Naval Service.
The Naval Operations Command Centre located at Naval Base Haulbowline is staffed twenty four hours a day seven days a week by qualified Naval Service personnel who carry out monitoring and surveillance of all vessels equipped with a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) that are operating in and adjacent to the Irish EEZ.
A range of factors including adverse weather conditions, unscheduled maintenance, as well as staffing issues can impact scheduled patrol days. The number of cancelled Naval Service patrols from 2019 to date is as follows:
|
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
|
Scheduled Patrol Days Cancelled |
94 |
81 |
240* |
49 |
86 |
* 169 cancelled patrol days in 2021 were as a result of LÉ Ciara’s inability, due to size, to safely implement the necessary Covid-19 precautions. In addition 47 scheduled patrol days were cancelled in 2021 due to a fire which occurred on board LÉ Niamh in late 2020.
Notwithstanding some challenges being experienced, the Naval Service continues to carry out the roles assigned by Government, including fishery protection and maritime surveillance operations.
