129. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Defence for an update on the GUARD, OVERSIGHT and SeaDOM projects on maritime and subsea object detection at the Centre for Robotics and Intelligent Systems (CRIS) at the University of Limerick; whether any of these projects have become operationally capable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54118/26]

Minister for Defence: The GUARD project, funded through Enterprise Ireland's Disruptive Technology Innovation Fund (DTIF) for a 36-month period from 1st July 2021 to 31st June 2024, was developed to support drug interdiction by utilising smart drones.

The project was led by Tyndall National Institute and included A-TechSYN, VRAI, WAZP, University College Dublin and the University of Limerick (CRIS Lab) as project partners, with the Irish Naval Service providing operational input to the project. GUARD examined the use of smart drone technology, including medium-range vertical take-off and landing systems, to support maritime surveillance, drug interdiction and maritime situational awareness. From a Defence perspective, the project provided information relevant to potential future capability development in the maritime domain and to the possible operational use of unmanned systems in support of security tasks at sea.

Naval Service colleagues continue to engage with the GUARD consortium.

The SeaDom (Sea-Surface and Subsea Dark Object Detection and Mitigation) and Oversight (Innovation Detection System for Dark Vessels to Enhance Maritime Security in Ireland's Waters) projects were funded through the 2024 Research Ireland Defence Innovation Challenge under the Maritime Domain Awareness Challenge area. 

SeaDom focussed on the creation of an Unmanned Sub-Surface Vessel (USSV) that can be deployed from ports or tethered from ships to provide information on dark vessels or detect contraband. Separately, the Oversight project focussed on the development of tethered drone installations around coastal perimeters that can detect dark vessels within 40km of shore.

As the Research Ireland Defence Innovation Challenge is a stage-gated process, pending the recommendations of an independent international review panel, these projects were not selected to progress beyond the Concept Phase of the programme. Therefore no further funding was provided to these projects beyond the €20,000 funding allocated to support teams through the Concept Phase. Consequently, these projects are not currently operationally capable.

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Dáil Éireann debate. Question 145 - Departmental data [54117/26].

145. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Defence the extent of her Department's engagement with the Centre for Robotics and Intelligent Systems (CRIS) at the University of Limerick; the details of all projects at CRIS for which funding is currently being provided by her Department; the plans to expand strategic funding for field robotics innovation; her plans to visit the facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54117/26]

Minister for Defence: My Department, through the Defence Research, Technology and Innovation (RTI) Unit has been engaged with the Centre for Robotics and Intelligent Systems (CRIS Lab) since 2021, through initiatives such as Enterprise Ireland's Disruptive Technology Innovation Fund and the Research Ireland Defence Innovation Challenge. 

As of 2026, the Department of Defence is not currently funding any active projects through the CRIS Lab however, it has, in recent years provided co-funding to two projects under the 2024 Research Ireland Defence Innovation Challenge. The SeaDom and Oversight projects each received a total of €20,000 to support them through the Concept Phase of the programme, co-funded by both the Department of Defence and Research Ireland.

The SeaDom (Sea-Surface and Subsea Dark Object Detection and Mitigation) and Oversight (Innovation Detection System for Dark Vessels to Enhance Maritime Security in Ireland's Waters) projects were funded through the 2024 Research Ireland Defence Innovation Challenge under the Maritime Domain Awareness Challenge area. 

SeaDom focussed on the creation of an Unmanned Sub-Surface Vessel (USSV) that can be deployed from ports or tethered from ships to provide information on dark vessels or detect contraband. Separately, the Oversight project focussed on the development of tethered drone installations around coastal perimeters that can detect dark vessels within 40km of shore.

As the Research Ireland Defence Innovation Challenge is a stage-gated process, pending the recommendations of an independent international review panel, these projects were not selected to progress beyond the Concept Phase of the programme. Therefore, no further funding was provided to these projects beyond the €20,000 funding allocated to support teams through the Concept Phase.

Separately, my Department has supported the GUARD project, funded through Enterprise Ireland's Disruptive Technology Innovation Fund (DTIF) for a 36-month period from 1st July 2021 to 31st June 2024. The GUARD project was developed to support drug interdiction by utilising smart drones.

On 6th November 2025, my Department was represented at a Stakeholders Workshop on The Future of Marine and Aerial Robotics in Ireland, hosted by the CRIS Lab at the University of Limerick. The event brought together more than twenty senior representatives from government, national agencies, industry, and academia to assess Ireland’s current and future needs in field robotics. The workshop highlighted the critical role of robotic marine and aerial systems in addressing national priorities including offshore renewable energy, maritime security, environmental monitoring, climate resilience, and emergency response. 

My Department is reviewing a proposal drafted by the CRIS Lab for the establishment of a National Lab for Marine and Aerial Field Robotics. This proposal invites national policy makers, in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, along with the Department of Defence, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Department of Transport, Department of Climate, Energy and Environment, and the Department of Culture, Communication and Sports to recognise the strategic opportunity presented by CRIS and support its transformation into Ireland’s National Lab for Marine and Aerial Field Robotics. This proposal is welcome, however careful consideration and collaboration with other key departments and stakeholders will be required.

My most recent correspondence with representatives of the CRIS Lab, highlighted their continued engagement and collaboration with the Defence Forces and furthermore I have expressed an interest in visiting the CRIS Lab this year subject to availability.

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Dáil Éireann debate. Question 175 - Defence forces [54034/26].

175. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces have the capacity needed to maintain continuous surveillance of vessels operating near critical subsea infrastructure during the EU Presidency period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54034/26]

Minister for Defence: The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The primary day-to-day tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union.  It also carries out a number of other non-fishery related tasks including maritime surveillance, drug interdiction, search and rescue, and maritime defence and security operations (MDSO). 

In addition to Naval Service patrols, aerial monitoring and surveillance of the Irish EEZ is carried out by the Air Corps Maritime Patrol Squadron using C295 maritime patrol aircraft equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance and communication equipment.

The Naval Operations Command Centre, located at Naval Base Haulbowline, is staffed twenty four hours a day seven days a week by qualified Naval Service personnel who carry out remote monitoring and surveillance of the Irish EEZ. This monitoring provides the Naval Service with a recognised maritime picture which assists in determining how each Defence Forces maritime asset should be tasked.

We are again this year seeing a gradual increase in the number of Naval Service and Air Corps patrols at sea. This continues the trend whereby there was a significant increase in maritime patrols from 2024 to 2025. 

I am satisfied that the Defence Forces have sufficient capacity to continue to carry out the roles assigned to them by Government.

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Dáil Éireann debate. Question 187 - Defence forces [54217/26].

187. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Defence the role of the Naval Service in protecting undersea telecommunications and energy cables and other critical maritime infrastructure within Ireland’s maritime area; the capabilities currently available to the Naval Service to carry out this role; whether there are plans to enhance those capabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54217/26]

Minister for Defence: Protecting critical undersea infrastructure requires collaboration within the State as well as collaboration with other European states to provide a broader understanding of what is occurring in the greater maritime space. This means that Government Departments and agencies, infrastructure operators, the Defence Forces, the private sector and academia all have a part to play.  Safeguarding critical undersea infrastructure requires a multifaceted approach with a wide variation of parties involved.

The Defence Forces routinely carry out monitoring and surveillance of Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) using both Naval Service assets and Air Corps maritime patrol aircraft. These patrols can vary from fishery protection duties to other non-fishery related tasks including maritime surveillance, drug interdiction, search and rescue, and maritime defence and security operations (MDSO).

In addition to at sea monitoring, the Naval Operations Command Centre in Haulbowline carries out remote monitoring twenty four hours a day, seven days a week

In terms of enhancing capabilities, my Department is developing a Capability Development Programme, that will identify, at a high level, the capability requirements for the Defence Forces out to 2040.  This programme will inform future decisions on the prioritisation and development of capabilities, including those in the maritime domain, in support of the strategic Level of Ambition 2 set out in the Defence Policy Review, the Maritime Security Strategy and the objectives outlined in the Strategic Framework and the updated Detailed Implementation Plan for the Commission on the Defence Forces. I expect this Programme to be finalised in 2026.

Once finalised, the Programme will be implemented through rolling four year Capability Development Plans, the first of which will cover the period 2028 to 2032. Capabilities will then be developed and acquired in line with available capital allocations under the National Development Plan. This structured and phased approach will guide future investment decisions, including in relation to naval vessels, equipment and enabling systems, as part of the overall development of Defence Forces capability.

One of the key ongoing projects underway that will contribute to maritime security relates to subsea domain awareness. A programme of work has been approved as part of the overall Equipment Development Plan. Investment in sonar capability is the first project within that new programme which will see the Naval Service acquire sonar capability which will be used to detect objects near cables and pipelines in Irish territorial waters and the EEZ.  This new acquisition will enhance awareness below the surface, contributing to the overall maritime picture available to Naval Service and the wider Defence Forces. This is a complex project and a new capability, so work in training personnel and establishing the procedures and structures required within the Defence Forces has commenced, and will continue in the period up to the delivery in 2027.

Work has also commenced on Sonobuoys a second project within that subsea programme. This project will result in a new Air Corps capability which can be used to detect, localise, identify, and track objects in the Irish EEZ. This capability will be used in conjunction with the new towed sonar capability planned for delivery in 2027, and also with existing Air Corps assets.

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See also, debates from Tuesday, 28 July 2026

Question 282 Maritime safety 

Question 301 Maritime safety

Question 310 Naval service