Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 17 Feb 2000

Vol. 514 No. 5

Written Answers. - Naval Service Vessels.

Michael Ferris

Ceist:

55 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Defence the number of vessels available to the Naval Service; if there is a full complement of personnel available for each vessel; the number and type of patrol undertaken by each vessel in each of the years from 1997 to 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4519/00]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

The Naval Service is equipped with a total of eight vessels comprising one helicopter carrying vessel, five off shore patrol vessels and two coastal patrol vessels. At any given time there would generally be about half of these vessels on patrol. The new patrol vessel, the LE Roisín, was commissioned on 15 December, 1999 and became operational immediately afterwards. Consideration is also being given to the question of the purchase of another patrol vessel similar to the LE Roisín as a replacement for the LE Deirdre, which has completed almost 28 years in service.

The present policy of ongoing recruitment for enlistment in the Defence Forces, which I have approved, is designed to address the question of any shortfalls in personnel numbers in the Defence Forces, including the Naval Service and the Air Corps. I have already provided the House with specific details on this in the reply to a question this afternoon.

The main day to day role 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. The 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 to all areas of Irish waters as necessary. Fishery protection patrols are complemented by assistance provided by the Air Corps in the form of aerial surveillance by the two Casa maritime patrol aircraft.

Patrols range in duration from a few days to five or six weeks. The number of patrols undertaken by each vessel in each of the years from 1997 to 1999 is as follows:–

Vessel	1997	1998	1999
LE Deirdre	14	13	10
LE Emer	12	8	11
LE Aoife	7	11	11
LE Aisling	8	12	11
LE Eithne	13	9	11
LE Ciara	13	13	10
LE Orla	11	10	13
LE Roisin	–	–	1

Fishery protection activity accounts for over 90% of all Naval Service patrol time. However, as the need arises, Naval Service vessels may be deployed to other duties such as search and rescue, anti drug smuggling operations, pollution control, etc.