Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
100. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence the estimated cost of ensuring that all modern vessels be double crewed to ensure each vessel spends an absolute minimum of 220 days at sea per year, with this being phased in over the course of the vessel replacement programme as per the CODF; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52822/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces (CoDF) recommends the implementation of an accelerated programme of Naval vessel replacement to ensure a balanced fleet of nine modern ships by early in the next decade.
The Updated Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) for the Report of the CoDF provides that the acquisition planning phase for naval fleet management and replacement will be completed by the end of 2027, with the accelerated programme of naval vessel replacement in place post-2028.
The CoDF also recommended that all modern vessels be double crewed to ensure each vessel spends an absolute minimum of 220 days at sea per year, with this being phased in over the course of the vessel replacement programme. This recommendation was accepted in principle and, according to the DIP, the planned completion date for this recommendation is December 2028.
The strength of the Naval Service, as at 31 March 2026, was 833 personnel out of an establishment of 1,094 personnel. The Military Authorities have advised that the total number of personnel currently required to crew all vessels is 294. It should be noted that this figure is currently under review in the context of the overall Force Design process currently in progress, with a view to enhanced capabilities under Level of Ambition 2.
Over the last few years, the Government has introduced several robust incentives and other measures aimed at addressing the challenge of recruitment and retention in the Naval Service and I’m pleased to see that there are clear indications that those measures are bearing fruit, with very positive progress made in the Naval Service over the last two years.
Recruitment for 2025 was robust with 162 inductions to the Naval Service - 65 more than the total achieved in 2024. There have been a further 39 inductions recorded to the end of March of this year. In addition, significant growth in specialist recruitment has been achieved.
Three Force Design teams, one each for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, were established by the Defence Forces and an overarching Strategic Force Design office was also established. The Force Design teams are working collaboratively to develop a Force Design for the entire Defence Forces and such work is both complicated and challenging. Once completed, the Chief of Staff will submit a report on Force Design to me for consideration.
A draft Strategic Workforce Plan prepared by the Defence Forces has been submitted to me for consideration. The draft plan, recommendations, and modelling tool will be considered over the coming weeks. As the Deputy will be aware, the aim of this process is to provide a pathway to the achievement of a strength of 11,500, inclusive of civilian personnel, commensurate with Level of Ambition 2.
I would like to reassure the Deputy that the regeneration of the Naval Service is one of my key priorities as Minister for Defence. So too is it a priority for the Defence Forces. This reflects the commitment made in the Programme for Government, and is reinforced in the actions required under the Strategic Framework 2026, which I published on 10 February 2026.
To that end, I have had detailed discussions with the Chief of Staff on the need to have a Regeneration Report submitted on the Naval Service. The Defence Forces, in conjunction with senior officials from my Department, are now working to have the report and an action plan against which progress will be measured, which I expect to receive shortly. Regeneration of the Naval Service will also be informed and influenced by other relevant plans from across my Department including the new National Maritime Security Strategy.
Until such time as I and my Department have had the opportunity to consider in detail the significant amount of work being done in relation to workforce planning, force redesign and regeneration of the Naval Service, I am not in a position to estimate with any degree of accuracy the cost associated with giving effect to the recommendation of the CoDF relating to double crewing.
