Insufficient staff to operate Naval Service Reserve's new armed motor launches 

Naval Service Reserve recruits at the Naval Base Haulbowline, Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

A €2.6m contract has been awarded to build four new multi-purpose motor launches, with capacity for machine guns, for the Naval Service Reserve (NSR).

However, concerns have been raised as to how they'll be crewed as the force has just 116 personnel, when it's supposed to have a minimum of 200.