41 Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Defence the recent findings, if any, of asbestos in Naval Service ships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26268/99]

Following the attendance of a Naval Service Officer at a recent national asbestos seminar organised by the Health and Safety Authority, it was decided to carry out a survey of the older vessels of the naval service fleet. A firm of environmental consultants was appointed last October and LE Deirdre was the first ship to be surveyed. The results of the survey showed that chrysotile, white asbestos, was detected in the machinery spaces on certain items, that is, engine exhausts and manifold lagging.

Due to the high degree of commonality of equipment among the four ships of the offshore patrol vessel, (OPV) class, it was suspected that similar results would be likely in the other three ships. Subsequent surveys of these ships – LE Emer, LE Aoife and LE Aisling– confirmed this to be the case.