Update: Air Corps and Naval Services Resources – Defence 13th November, 2014

QUESTION NO:   105  
 
* To ask the Minister for Defence the degree to which periodic checks are made to ensure that resources available to the Air Corps and Naval Services continue to be adequate to meet the demand with particular reference to surveillance and search and rescue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.  
 

Minister for Defence (Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D.,):

 
 
The resources available to the Defence Forces to carry out their operational commitments are kept under constant review. I am satisfied that the Defence Forces, including the Air Corps and Naval Service, have the necessary resources to meet these commitments.  
 
With regard to surveillance, the Air Corps Maritime Patrol Squadron carries out aerial surveillance of territorial waters using the two CASA maritime patrol aircraft. These aircraft are equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance and communication equipment which offers aerial assistance to the Naval Service in patrolling the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The Naval Service carries out surveillance across the Irish EEZ and a vessel replacement programme is currently underway with one new vessel, LÉ Samuel Beckett commissioned into service this year, a second vessel, LÉ James Joyce due to be delivered in 2015 and a third vessel to be delivered in 2016.
 
With reference to Search and Rescue, t   he Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of search and rescue services within the Irish search and rescue regio   n. In accordance with the current White Paper, the Defence Forces have a role in assisting the civil authorities (Aid to the Civil Authority) and both the Air Corps and the Naval Service provide support to the   Coast Guard       in accordance with an agreed Service Level Agreement.      
 
A new White Paper on Defence is currently being developed in my Department. This will provide the Defence policy framework for the next decade and beyond. I am determined to ensure that the new White Paper fully addresses the Defence response to future security challenges and related resource requirements in a comprehensive way.  
   PQ 43734/14