Naval service has only one patrol ship operating in Irish waters

In response to queries on the availability of just one vessel to patrol one million square kilometres of our Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ), the Defence Forces said it "does not give specifics on operational units nor their movements, for operational security reasons". File picture: Eddie O'Hare

The Naval Service has only been able to put one ship out on sea patrols for the past month due to a combination of mechanical issues and a lack of specialist personnel.

The Irish Examiner has also learned that a shortage of expert technicians has, in part, delayed the deployment of two smaller vessels, costing €26m, which arrived from New Zealand last May and are unlikely to become operational until this winter.