Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 July 2016
934. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason there is no provision in the legislation for an Army disability pension to be paid in cases where mental trauma is suffered here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22369/16]
View answerThe Army Pensions Acts provide that a disability pension may, following retirement, be granted to a former member of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) in respect of permanent disablement due to a wound or injury attributable to military service (whether at home or abroad) or to a disease attributable to or aggravated by overseas service with a United Nations Force. The Acts also provide that a disability pension may be granted in respect of permanent disablement due to a disease secondary to an injury (whether at home or abroad). Illnesses of a psychiatric nature or similar conditions are generally classified as disease for purposes of the Army Pensions Acts.
The specific provisions in the Army Pensions Acts covering disease attributable to or aggravated by overseas service with the United Nations were introduced in 1960 in the context of the additional risks and dangers associated with such service. Similar provisions previously applied where the disease was attributable to home service but only during the 1922-24 period and the Emergency period (1939-45) because service conditions during each of these periods were regarded as exceptional. There are no proposals to amend the Army Pensions Acts to allow for disability pensions applications in respect of disease contracted on home service.
I should say that there are provisions under existing superannuation arrangements viz. the Defence Forces Pensions Schemes, for personnel who are compulsorily retired or discharged on medical grounds. In addition to benefits under those Schemes and the Army Pensions Acts, the majority of members of the PDF are eligible for a range of benefits under the Social Welfare Acts, and under the Health Acts on the same basis as other members of the community.
The Defence Forces, through their Personnel Support Services (PSS), and working closely with the HSE, have and continue to engage in education programmes for all members of the Defence Forces. These programmes include:
- Issuing an “Information Guide on Mental Health and Well Being in the Defence Forces”;
- Providing access to “Mental Fitness” programmes through the Defence Forces Intranet;
- Providing WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) training to all PSS personnel;
- Conducting STORM (Skills Training on Risk Management in suicide and self harm mitigation) training with all overseas units;
- Conducting Safe Talk training within the Defence Forces;
- Providing CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management) training for all personnel;
- Issuing and giving presentations on “Defence Forces Guidelines on Suicide”;
- Running courses on “Suicide and Self Harm Awareness”; and
- Providing ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) in conjunction with the HSE.
There is a PSS office in every major military installation, with one or more qualified Barrack PSS Officers. The role of the Barrack PSS Office includes providing information, assistance and counselling on a range of matters including interpersonal problems, stress, bereavement, housing, education, taxation, social welfare and retirement. As part of the PSS office, civilian social workers are also available to support Defence Forces personnel and their families. In addition, an independent and strictly confidential 24 hour care-line, manned by trained counsellors, is available to all Defence Forces personnel.
