A year ago the Government was warned in a secret report that the Irish Navy (Naval Service) was likely to be reduced to just three operational ships due to a fall in critical engineering staff, The Journal.ie has learned.

It has emerged that the navy has been reduced to just 840 personnel at the Cork Harbour base on Haulbowline island.

This will reduce further in the coming months as upwards of 40 people have indicated that they wish to resign.

A minimum strength for the Service is recommended to be 1,094 fully-trained personnel. The Navy has eight ships attached to its Cork Harbour base – two extra inshore vessels were recently purchased from New Zealand.

It currently has five ships available for operational patrols but repeated concerns have been expressed about the level of staffing.

According to a number of security sources a secret memo carried out by a body dubbed the Joint Operational Planning Group raised the issue.

It is understood that this report, compiled a year ago, warned that the staffing crisis in the Naval Service would result in a further reduction of ships capable of going to sea.

More here on the critical crewing crisis.