asked the Minister for Defence if he will state (a) the present condition of each of the naval service corvettes, (b) the annual cost of maintaining one corvette in an operational condition, (c) the annual cost of maintaining the naval installations at Haulbowline and (d) the present strength and the annual maintenance cost of An Slua Mhuirí.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Naval Corvettes.
47.
(a) The corvettes were surveyed afloat in 1966. The surveyor reported that the vessels had been well maintained; the hulls were in good condition structurally, having regard to their ages; all main propulsion machinery and auxiliaries were found to be in good condition and well maintained as were the boilers with one exception, that of LE "Maev" where some renewals were considered necessary. Following this survey, LE "Macha" and LE "Cliona" were overhauled in January and July, 1967, respectively, and any necessary repairs effected. A similar refit of LE "Maev" is at present in progress.
(b) The cost of maintaining a corvette in operational condition varies from vessel to vessel and from year to year. The major overhauls of LE "Macha" and LE "Cliona" completed in 1967 cost about £20,000 each. The chief maintenance costs for these vessels in the year following these refits amounted to £4,412 in the case of LE "Macha" and £3,731 in the case of LE "Cliona". These figures do not include running costs or day to day expenditure of a minor nature.
(c) It is not possible to isolate the cost of maintenance of the Naval installations at Haulbowline. It may be stated, however, that the annual cost of materials is unlikely to exceed £3,000. In addition, the cost of civilian tradesmen, labourers, etc., employed by the Corps of Engineers on maintenance work at Haulbowline in the current year is estimated at £13,500.
(d) The present effective strength of An Slua Mhuirí is 331.
The approximate annual cost of the main charges directly attributable to the Slua Mhuirí (e.g. pay, gratuities, allowances, grants, clothing, rations) is £13,000. This figure does not include the cost of such shared services as accommodation, medical treatment, etc., or the cost of personnel of the permanent Defence Force assigned for duty with the Slua Mhuirí.
Can the Minister say how many of these vessels are at present effective for sea-going?
Two of them and another is in for repairs.
Does the Minister mean that if, at the present time, it was necessary for those vessels to be used, two of them could have a crew and are in a condition to go to sea?
The position is that the Naval Service can manage a crew for two vessels but they have not full complements for two vessels. However, they could manage two vessels for a short time.
When were these vessels built?
I have answered that question several times in the House.
They are old age pensioners.
The Minister is not an antiquary historian.
An archaeologist.
The Coalition could have bought new vessels when they were in office.
It is a long time since we were there. Twelve years is a long time in the life of a ship.