Liam Aylward
Ceist:139 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Defence his views on matters concerning the Defence Forces as raised in a submission (details supplied). [18004/01]
Written Answers. - Defence Forces Review.
In line with the White Paper on Defence, the standard Permanent Defence Force Steyr 5.56mm rifle will become the primary individual weapon for appropriate personnel in the Reserve Defence Force. The replacement programme has begun. Some 1,500 Steyr rifles were issued to the reserve last year. A further 2,000 Steyr rifles have now been acquired to advance this programme. I am delighted with the progress made to date on this important issue.
I will make a decision on the acquisition of additional armoured personnel carriers for the Defence Forces later this year. A board of officers was set up by the military authorities last year to develop the concept of a light tactical vehicle. The board is currently working to develop the required characteristics of the proposed vehicle and it is too early to say when the tender documentation will be ready for issue.
The building of the second new ship for the Naval Service by Appledore Shipbuilders limited in England is almost complete. The ship, to be named LE Niamh, is a replacement for LE Deirdre which has reached the end of its economic life and has been decommissioned. During builders sea trials, which take place in advance of customer acceptance sea trials, a problem arose with the port gearbox on the ship. The contractual issues in regard to both gearboxes are being addressed by Appledore Shipbuilders limited with the manufacturer of the gearboxes, Scana Volda of Norway.
When both gearboxes are reinstated and re-commissioned, the ship will undergo customer acceptance sea trials which will be attended by representatives of the Department of Defence and the Naval Service. These sea trials are scheduled for the second week of July 2001. Once completed, and everything going well, the ship will be officially handed over to the Department. The ship, which was originally scheduled for delivery in September 2001, will then sail to Haulbowline and will enter operational service as soon as possible thereafter. Following its arrival in Ireland, the new ship will be fitted with a second hand Oto Melara 76mm gun manufactured in Italy.