168. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline the Naval Service’s current fleet complement; the number of ships that are fully crewed and at sea; his Department’s plans for the further upgrading of the fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18005/25]
Topics / Naval Service
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsNaval Service
150 questions from 46 TDs, between 22 January 2025 and 29 September 2026.
150
questions
137 written, 13 oral
46
TDs have asked
10
parties and groups
Independents counted together
1
departments asked
Questions per month
The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.
Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 1 |
| February 2025 | 13 |
| March 2025 | 2 |
| April 2025 | 2 |
| May 2025 | 10 |
| June 2025 | 8 |
| July 2025 | 9 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 9 |
| October 2025 | 2 |
| November 2025 | 8 |
| December 2025 | 8 |
| January 2026 | 15 |
| February 2026 | 10 |
| March 2026 | 8 |
| April 2026 | 8 |
| May 2026 | 12 |
| June 2026 | 6 |
| July 2026 | 10 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 9 |
| October 2026 | 0 |
Who asks, by party
The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
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12
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12
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8
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8
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6
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6
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6
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6
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
170. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the strength of the Naval Service personnel at the year-end in 2022, 2023 and 2024; and his plans to step up recruitment in the coming period, specifically referring to recruitment targets. [17826/25]
184. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of naval vessels in the ownership of the Naval Service; and the number currently in active operation-deployment. [17827/25]
188. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of Naval Service ships in day-to-day use; the number docked due to understaffing; and the current location of these ships. [17270/25]
201. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the position regarding the development of a naval base in Dún Laoghaire Harbour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17916/25]
204. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will report on his Department’s discussions with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to secure berthage space in Dún Laoghaire harbour for the Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17725/25]
180. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current strength of the Naval Service reserve; the actions being taken to support recruitment and retention; and to set out the strategy to maintain and expand the reserve’s role in national maritime security. [21939/25]
13. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his views on the Parliamentary Budget Office Report on the Naval Service personnel tax credit; whether he agrees with its conclusion that the credit has failed to achieve its stated policy objectives since being introduced; whether he agrees with its recommendation that instead there should be further increases to the Naval Service's patrol duty …
354. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of males and females that applied for the most recent Naval Service cadet recruitment campaign. [20903/25]
219. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the capital works currently ongoing at Haulbowline naval base; when each of those capital works will be completed; and the future capital works projects at this base that are scheduled to commence later this year. [13138/25]
235. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of ships in the Naval Service fleet; the current number that can put to sea; the level of staffing needed for each; the number of additional staff that are required to ensure a fully functioning Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11326/25]
18. Deputy John Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the efforts being made to establish a unit of the Naval Reserve in Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5786/25]
24. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for the up-to-date position on safeguarding measures to protect any threat of damage to vital subterranean and submarine infrastructure in Irish waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6062/25]
28. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current agreed establishment numbers required for the Naval Service; the current strength; the number of personnel available for sea-going duties; the steps being taken to retain and recruit personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6064/25]
36. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the efforts being made to establish a unit of the Naval Reserve in Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5810/25]
37. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the efforts being made to establish a unit of the Naval Reserve in the north west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5809/25]
41. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of instances where ships were put to sea without a functioning main gun. [6107/25]
43. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the extent to which the Naval Service monitors the presence of naval vessels from other countries in Irish waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6063/25]
190. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of vacant engineer room artificer technicians currently in the Naval Service; and when each of those vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [6289/25]
112. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of ships the Naval Service can currently simultaneously put to sea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4268/25]
113. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of Naval Service patrol days scheduled, cancelled, and which took place in the years 2019 to date, by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4269/25]
114. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if Naval Service vessels have been put to sea with non-functioning main guns; if so, the manner in which such occurred; his response to such; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4270/25]
128. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if the LÉ Aoibhinn has reached full operational capability; the number of crew required for her deployment; whether that complement of personnel is in place; and the range of duties that she will carry out during 2025. [3430/25]
129. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence when the LÉ Gobnait will reach full operational capability; the number of crew required for her deployment; whether that complement of personnel is in place; and the range of duties that she will carry out during 2025. [3431/25]
117. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if there are plans to purchase dock landing ships for the Naval Service. [46388/24]