Written Answers Nos. 327-335
327. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his Department, when requested, will disclose the chemicals handled by serving and retired Air Corps personnel when working at Casement Aerodrome from the 1990s onwards. [21009/17]
View answer328. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the chemicals which were used for cleaning and maintaining aircraft at Casement Aerodrome from the 1990s to date in 2017, in tabular form. [21010/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 327 and 328 together.
As the information being sought is currently the subject of legal proceedings, the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment at this time.
329. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Naval Service personnel serving in humanitarian missions in the Mediterranean who have availed of the Defence Forces' counselling services on an annual basis since the missions commenced in May 2015, in tabular form. [21013/17]
View answerI am informed by the military authorities that Personnel Support Services (PSS) within the individual formations provide confidential services including Critical Incident Stress Management which is available to all Permanent Defence Force personnel. The Naval Personnel Support Services (PSS) office, under the direction of the Defence Forces PSS office, provide Pre-deployment Stress Management briefings to all Permanent Defence Force personnel deploying to the Mediterranean on OPERATION PONTUS, in accordance with the Defence Forces’ regulations.
Prior to a ship’s return to home waters, Naval Personnel Support Services (PSS) office again provide post deployment Stress Management debriefings to all Permanent Defence Force personnel engaged on OPERATION PONTUS in the Mediterranean, in accordance with the Defence Forces’ regulations.
No individual personnel have sought counselling services from the Naval Personnel Support Services (PSS) as a result of their deployment to OPERATION PONTUS in either 2015 or 2016. Nor have any Naval Service personnel serving in humanitarian missions in the Mediterranean been referred to the Defence Forces Mental Health Services (Psychologist and/or Psychiatrist services) since the missions commenced in May 2015.
In addition to Personnel Support Services (PSS), a confidential counselling service provided by an independent service provider is available to all members of the Defence Forces. Defence Forces personnel can access this service by calling a free phone number. A counsellor is available to talk, provide information, discuss needs and advise on follow up counselling. Face-to-face counselling can then be provided to individuals if required.
The service provider is bound to complete confidentiality by its code of practice with the only exception being where it has been identified that the individual poses a danger to themselves or others. The Defence Forces are only provided with anonymous statistical data for service evaluation purposes. No data which identifies individual users of the service or their location is provided. As such, it is not possible to ascertain if any Naval Service personnel serving in humanitarian missions in the Mediterranean have availed of the confidential counselling service.
330. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the policy regarding military personnel availing of Defence Forces counselling; if this information is disclosed to their superior officer; and if this has a bearing on their future deployment. [21014/17]
View answerAs a matter of policy, personnel within the Defence Forces have access to a wide range of accessible and confidential counselling services both internally and externally. These include, the Personnel Support Services (PSS) within the individual formations which provide confidential services including Critical Incident Stress Management which is available to all Defence Forces personnel. In addition to their day to day role, the PSS supports contingents pre and post deployment and its trained personnel are also deployed in response to any significant operational incidents at home and overseas. In addition, a cohort of personnel designated and promoted as Designated Contact Persons, (DCPs) provide a local advisory and referral service at barrack level to their colleagues with a particular focus on recruits and new entrants.
Separately, a confidential counselling service provided by an independent service provider and funded by the Department is available to all members of the Defence Forces. Defence Forces personnel can access this service by calling a free phone number. A counsellor is available to talk, provide information, discuss needs and advise on follow up counselling. Face-to-face counselling can then be provided to individuals if required.
The service provider is bound to complete confidentiality by its code of practice with the only exception being where it has been identified that the individual poses a danger to themselves or others. The Defence Forces are only provided with anonymous statistical data for service evaluation purposes. No data which identifies individual users of the service or their location is provided. Defence Forces members using the Personal Support Service office are also afforded the same confidentiality.
The Defence Forces has a duty of care to both personnel who may be suffering some form of anxiety and personnel working with such individuals. A medical questionnaire completed at Annual/Occupational Medical requires Defence Forces personnel to declare whether or not they are, or have been, in receipt of counselling services either internally within the Defence Forces, or externally. An examining Medical Officer will review the questionnaire and explore, as relevant, the content. If the Medical Officer feels there is a 'medical issue' such as depression, generalised anxiety state, PTSD, etc. he/she may decide to change the individual's Medical Classification Code (MCC) so that the individual is not exposed to an occupational environment which could aggravate his/her current medical situation. Depending on the exact circumstances, this could be a temporary or permanent change to the Medical Classification Code and may have implications with regard to deployments overseas for example. This outcome is only where there is a medical condition underlying the process for which the patient was in receipt of counselling.
An individual’s Medical Classification Code is deemed “Medical in Confidence”. Therefore, a Commanding Officer will not be informed as to the reason for the Medical Classification Code change. Thus, whilst the Commanding Officer will be aware that the Medical Classification Code has changed, he/she will not be aware as to the reason for the change.
331. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of persons who have left the Reserve Defence Forces on an annual basis since 2010, in tabular form. [21015/17]
View answerThe following table sets out the number of persons that have left the Reserve Defence Force on an annual basis since 2010:
|
- |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017* |
|
ARMY RESERVE |
1,023 |
1,154 |
810 |
1,004 |
848 |
362 |
267 |
55 |
|
NAVAL RESERVE |
36 |
45 |
30 |
34 |
36 |
25 |
5 |
8 |
*As of 27 April, 2017.
332. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the training courses currently available for enlisted personnel wishing to learn a trade while serving in the military. [21016/17]
View answerTrades are advertised within the Defence Forces in accordance with the needs of the organisation. The following is a consolidated list of trades that can be undertaken by members of the Defence Forces under the Apprenticeships and Trainee Technician Schemes:
Engineers Apprentice Scheme
- Draughtsman
- Civil Engineer Architectural Technician
- Electrician
- Carpenter
- Construction Plant Fitter
- Plumber
- Block Layer
- Plasterer
- Air Conditioning/Refrigeration
- Metal Fabricator
- Heavy Plant Operator
- Communication and Information Services Technician
CIS Trainee Technician Scheme
- Communication and Information Services Technician
Ordnance Trainee Technician Scheme
- Armament Artificer Instrumentation
- Mechanical Automation and Maintenance Fitting
Transport Heavy Vehicle Maintenance Trainee Technician Scheme
- Heavy Vehicle Maintenance Trainee Technician Scheme
Air Corps Apprentice Scheme
- Aircraft Technician
- Avionics Technician
Naval Service Apprentice Scheme
- Engine Room Artificer
- Electrical Artificer
- Hull Artificer
- Computer Information Systems Technician
Defence Forces School of Catering Scheme
- Professional Cookery
Although Defence Forces’ schemes provide for the running of the above mentioned courses, they may not all be currently ongoing. The running of courses for certain trades/skills is subject to the identified needs of the organisation.
333. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the criteria for calculating the minimum number of Defence Forces personnel serving in the three branches; if it is calculated on a pro rata basis equivalent to the State’s population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21017/17]
View answerIn December 2011, the Government decided to stabilise the strength ceiling of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) at 9,500 personnel. This followed a phased reduction in numbers over previous years. Accordingly, the establishment strengths of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service were revised in the relevant Defence Forces Regulation. The relevant Regulation provides that the PDF shall comprise an establishment of 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service personnel.
In examining the staffing levels required in each service, the military authorities were fully consulted having regard to operational requirements and the need to meet all roles assigned by Government.
The Government are committed to maintaining the respective establishment strengths and this was affirmed in the White Paper on Defence when no changes were proposed to the staffing levels of the three services.
334. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel that are due to retire from the services by the end of 2017. [21018/17]
View answerI have been advised by the Military Authorities that 65 personnel (15 officers and 50 other ranks) are due to retire from the Permanent Defence Force on age grounds by end 2017. It is not possible to state how many personnel will leave the Permanent Defence Force for reasons other than age during this period. With the support of the Chief of Staff and within the resources available, it is intended to retain the capacity of the Defence Forces to operate effectively across all roles and to undertake the tasks laid down by Government both at home and overseas.
335. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the details of payments made by his Department or a public body under the aegis of his Department to a person (details supplied) in the past 36 months and to date in 2017. [21387/17]
View answerThere were no payments made by my Department or the Army Pensions Board, the only body under the aegis of my Department, to the person referred to by the Deputy during the period covered by the question.
