asked the Minister for Defence the strength of each unit of An Slua Muirí and the vessels available for training at each location.

(Dún Laoghaire): As part of the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.

A total of five rowing/sailing boats are available to An Slua Muirí, one for each company. Two yachts are, also available to An Slua. One is located in Dublin for the use of the eastern group and the other is located in Cork for the use of the southern group. A leased motor launch is located with No. 5 Company at Limerick.

Strength of An Slua Muirí as on 31 October 1984

Could the Minister give me the total strength of An Slua Muirí? That should not take too long.

You would need Garret's calculator.

(Dún Laoghaire): The number is 353.

Did the Minister of State say five rowing boats or five sailing boats?

(Dún Laoghaire): I said they have rowing and sailing boats to the total of five.

What kind of boat, a rowing boat or a sailing boat?

(Dún Laoghaire): You can do either. It depends on yourself.

I want to get at whether the Government are serious in providing proper facilities for An Slua Muirí. I am anxious to establish at this stage what vessels are available to An Slua Muirí and if it is Government policy to equip An Slua Muirí adequately and to expand the membership of An Slua Muirí. Do the Government feel that we in this island country should develop a maritime tradition, that membership of An Slua Muirí would be a valuable contribution to the development of a sound marine base and of a maritime policy and encourage people to take careers at sea? The Minister will appreciate that recent events would not encourage one to come to that conclusion.

(Dún Laoghaire): There is no doubt about the Government's commitment to An Slua Muirí. I have given the information in reply to the question asked. If the Deputy wishes to table another question about An Slua's activities and future policies, then we can consider it.

Will the Minister of State agree that this is the first time that questions on defence have come to be answered in this session? It is very disappointing if the Minister does not come in here to answer these questions himself when the Minister of State obviously is very poorly briefed.

(Dún Laoghaire): I reject totally the allegation that I am poorly briefed. I have answered the question as tabled by the Deputy. The Minister in question at present is on official duty on behalf of the Defence Forces.

I do not know if it is an adequate answer if the Minister of State does not know the difference between a rowing boat and a sailing boat.

(Dún Laoghaire): I do know the difference. I have answered the Deputy's question and I refute his allegation.

In view of the fact that the Minister for Defence is the Minister who has the ownership of if not the responsibility for Asgard II, could the Minister of State give any assurance about the future of Asgard II and the sail training programme, in view of the liquidation of Irish Shipping who have been managing Asgard II and who have employed directly the professional crew?

I take it that the Deputy is relating the question to the training of An Slua Muirí.

Yes.

(Dún Laoghaire): An Slua Muirí do not use Asgard II. The Minister at present is making arrangements with regard to the management of Asgard II.

Is the Minister of State saying that An Slua Muirí have not used Asgard II for the purposes of training in sailing conditions?

(Dún Laoghaire): I am saying that they do not run Asgard II. They go on training courses.

That is different. The Minister of State said that they do not use it.

Can the Minister of State give some indication as to whether the Minister for Defence is at present studying the future of Asgard II?

(Dún Laoghaire): He is considering the future management of Asgard II.

Can the Minister, as the owner of Asgard II, give a solemn assurance as to its future and the future of the sail training programme?

(Dún Laoghaire): I have no doubt that the future of Asgard II is in safe hands.

On the sail training programme, could the Minister of State say something about the professional crew of Asgard II who up to now have been employed directly by Irish Shipping?

(Dún Laoghaire): That is a separate question. I have answered the question as tabled by Deputy Molloy.

Could the Minister of State tell the House if his Department and this Government have any proposals to extend the strength of An Slua Muirí and the facilities and resources available to them?

(Dún Laoghaire): There are no plans at present to extend the strength of An Slua Muirí. Everything depends on the resources available to the Department.