Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 July 2013
588. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Defence if there is a mechanism in place whereby a person who is a member of the Defence Forces at private level has been granted a year's leave of absence but wishes to return after three months can be facilitated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35962/13]
View answerI am advised by the military authorities that the procedures for personnel returning from leave of absence are set out in detail in Defence Forces Administrative Instruction Part 11. Administrative Instruction Part 11 provides that before Defence Forces personnel can return from a period of leave of absence there must be a suitable vacancy within the individual’s parent unit or brigade. When a suitable vacancy arises the individual must then complete a medical and obtain a medical category certifying that they are fit to return to duty. This medical category shall not be higher than the individual’s medical category prior to proceeding on their leave of absence. Personnel, who have been granted leave of absence, but who wish to cancel part of this leave of absence prematurely, can make an application to do so through their Parent Unit. The procedure followed in such cases is the same as if the individual was returning having completed the full term of their agreed period of leave of absence.
