Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
139. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence whether a feasibility study has been done on using the LÉ Eithne for cultural and educational purposes; if so, if he will publish the findings of that study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13854/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe former Naval Service flagship vessel LÉ Eithne was decommissioned in 2022. A number of organisations, including Dublin Port and the local authorities in Cork and Limerick, indicated their interest in taking LÉ Eithne as a museum piece / tourist attraction following her decommissioning. The Department of Defence engaged extensively with these interested parties but following, in some cases, lengthy discussions, all these parties withdrew their interest in taking the ship.
While my Department did not itself carry out a feasibility study in relation to using LÉ Eithne for cultural and educational purposes, I am informed that Dublin Port commissioned two reports in addition to a ship survey looking at the feasibility of taking LÉ Eithne as a historic museum ship in Dublin Port. However, Dublin Port subsequently withdrew their interest in taking the vessel.
When, despite the best efforts of all involved, these discussions were not successful in identifying an alternative use for LÉ Eithne post-decommissioning, I decided that the vessel should be disposed of by recycling in an environmentally sound manner along with two other decommissioned Naval Service vessels, LÉ Ciara and LÉ Orla.
Following a competitive process, officials from my Department have recently signed a contract for the removal of the ships from Cork Harbour for recycling in line with the EU Ship Recycling Regulation and relevant national regulations.
