266. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Defence if her Department has considered the purchasing of a national sail training vessel to replace the Asgard II; if she will provide greater support to sail training Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62554/26]

My Department has a continuing programme of sail training in Ireland, which is operated under a performance delivery agreement with Sail Training Ireland. In 2025, this programme yielded operated thirty-two voyages, with almost 500 trainees from across Ireland. A key condition of the funding is that it is directed towards making sail training accessible to those who might otherwise not have the opportunity to participate. As such, 83% of the 2025 participants received funding from the charity due to their personal circumstances, and three of the 2025 voyages were dedicated entirely to those with a disability.[]

Since 2023, the Department has paid a subvention of one hundred thousand euro per annum to Sail Training Ireland, with a further fifty thousand euro per annum paid from the Dormant Account Fund. Sail Training Ireland also attracts State funding from other sources enabling it to provide a broad levels of services to diverse groups. My Department does not have any plans to acquire a successor to the Asgard II.