The Naval Service currently has a fleet of eight commissioned vessels. These eight vessels consist of two P50 class large patrol vessels, four P60 class offshore patrol vessels, and two P70 inshore patrol vessels. There are four vessels available for operations on a rotation basis. This rotation takes account of maintenance, crew training and rest periods.
The table below details the current status of the eight commissioned Naval Service vessels:
|
Name
|
Class
|
Age
|
Current status
|
|
LÉ Roisin (P51)
|
Large Patrol Vessel
|
27
|
In Operational Reserve
|
|
LÉ Niamh (P52)
|
Large Patrol Vessel
|
25
|
In Operational Reserve
|
|
LÉ Samuel Beckett (P 61)
|
Offshore Patrol Vessel
|
12
|
Operational
|
|
LÉ James Joyce (P 62)
|
Offshore Patrol Vessel
|
11
|
Operational
|
|
LÉ William Butler Yeats (P 63)
|
Offshore Patrol Vessel
|
10
|
Operational
|
|
LÉ George Bernard Shaw (P64)
|
Offshore Patrol Vessel
|
7
|
Operational
|
|
LÉ Aoibhinn (P 71)
|
Inshore Patrol Vessel
|
17
|
Operational
|
|
LÉ Gobnait (P 72)
|
Inshore Patrol Vessel
|
17
|
Undergoing National fitout prior to entering service during 2026.
|
The LE Roisin and LE Niamh are currently in operational reserve as a result of previously acknowledged recruitment and retention difficulties in the Naval Service, in particular for specialist positions. As these vessels are not currently operational they are not crewed to full complement.
The LÉ Gobnait (P72) is nearing completion of necessary works prior to being brought into operational service during 2026.
Challenges with ships to sea has been well documented in recent years. During 2025 we have seen the benefit of a number of initiatives which have been introduced in recent years, such as the doubling of patrol duty allowance payable. As a result of these initiatives we have seen the number of patrol days completed by the Naval Service in 2025 increase by over 35% on the outputs from 2024.
The table below outlines the number of patrol days completed by the Naval Service in each of the years from 2019 - 2025:
|
Year
|
Completed Patrol Days
|
|
2019
|
1061
|
|
2020
|
1007
|
|
2021
|
832
|
|
2022
|
790
|
|
2023
|
520
|
|
2024
|
428
|
|
2025
|
580
|
The Detailed Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces recommended that smart metrics for patrol days should be developed and agreed between the Naval Service and the SFPA focused on quality and effectiveness of enforcement activities rather than quantity. I can confirm that these Smart Metrics have been introduced and Naval Service outputs are reported to the SFPA on a regular basis.
