Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 7 September 2018
6. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if it is Defence Forces policy that all those that leave the Naval Service engage in an exit interview; if records of these interviews are collected; if so, if those records are ever reviewed to detect patterns that may be driving persons to leave; and if an audit of records of exit interviews has ever been conducted in order to ensure that proper records are being kept. [35833/18]
View answerMilitary life places unique physical and psychological demands on individuals and, given the rigours of military life, there is understandably a relatively high level of turnover among Defence Forces personnel. This is not new and the Permanent Defence Force has always had a level of turnover that exceeds other areas of the public service. This is a feature of military organisations internationally.
Exit questionnaires are given to personnel by the Defence Forces as part of the administrative processing of their departure. Completion of such questionnaires, which are anonymous and confidential, is voluntary but personnel are encouraged to do so. Additionally, voluntary exit interviews are conducted on certain personnel.
The military authorities have advised that records of surveys and interviews are regularly reviewed in order to assist with the identification of trends and explanations for personnel leaving the organisation and that an audit of the records has been conducted. While this information is analysed by the Defence Forces, any conclusions must take into account the voluntary nature of this information and gaps that may exist in providing a comprehensive account of the reasons for departure.
