Vol. 472 No. 6
18 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself that the current number of ships and Naval Service personnel is adequate to provide an acceptable standard of fisheries surveillance in addition to other naval duties; the plans, if any, he has to increase the current number of ships or personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23806/96]
At present the Naval Service is equipped with a total of seven vessels comprising one helicopter carrying patrol vessel, four off shore patrol vessels and two coastal patrol vessels. The current strength on the Naval Service is 992. The Naval Service is tasked with patrolling all Irish waters from the shoreline to the outer limits of the exclusive economic zone. These patrols are carried out on a regular and frequent basis and are directed at all areas of Irish waters as necessary.
Advertisements were placed in the national newspapers recently inviting applications for enlistment in the Army and in the Naval Service in 1996 and 1997. I propose to enlist 200 recruits in 1996 and a further 400 in 1997. The number to be assigned to the Navy has yet to be decided.
As I outlined previously to the House, the EU has introduced a five year programme of financial aid towards the cost of measures to enforce the Common Fisheries Policy. The enforcement of the new control measures agreed in December 1995 is being examined in this context. The purpose of this exercise is to ensure that Ireland will derive the maximum benefit from the available EU support. The position in relation to the programme for 1997 is that Ireland's submission was passed to the Commission before the deadline of 30 June 1996 and provides for a downpayment on an additional Naval Patrol vessel.
Requests for proposals for the supply of a patrol vessel were advertised in the Official Journal of the European Community. The deadline for receipt of proposals is 10 January 1997. On the basis of the proposals received, a shortlist of suitable potential tenderers will be invited to tender. It is anticipated that the Department will be in a position to place a contract in the latter half of 1997.
