asked the Minister for Defence if the naval service minesweepers have recently been surveyed to ascertain their condition and remaining usefulness; if so, if he will give the results of that survey; if he is now in a position to give the estimated remaining life span of these vessels; and if he will give similar information in respect of LE Setanta.
Written Answers . - Naval Service Minesweepers .
367.
: The hulls of the three Naval Service coastal minesweepers were recently surveyed. The survey recommendations were that certain remedial work should be carried out to the hulls of two of the vessels during their next scheduled refits. More extensive structural repairs, however, would be necessary in the case of the third minesweeper. As the surveys of the vessels covered only the hulls and not the machinery, it is not possible to give an estimate of their remaining life span. As no survey was carried out in the case of LE Setanta it is not possible to give similar information in respect of this vessel.