A major increase in military spending will see the Irish Navy's current ships replaced, and the fleet boosted to nine ships within ten years.
Talks are also taking place between the Department of Defence and Dun Laoighaire County Council on creating a naval base at Dun Laoighaire harbour.
Dun Laoghaire based Senator, Barry Ward, says the location is ideal for patrolling the Irish Sea:
"What's also important about Dun Laoighaire harbour is that it doesn't have a lot of commercial traffic in and out of it at the moment. So that's not going to interrupt naval operations. So whatever infrastructure is required can easily be put in place as the investment in the Defence Forces increases, and hopefully Dun Laoighaire can be that base on the East Coast for naval operations and patrols of the Irish Sea".