Duncan Smith
Question:206. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Defence the healthcare, housing, psychiatric and income supports available to retired members of the Defence Forces. [37440/20]
View answerThursday, 19 November 2020
Questions (206)
Written answers
I recognise the valued public service that was given to the State by retired members of the Permanent Defence Force. As with other members of society, former members of the Permanent Defence Force can experience difficulties. In such circumstances they have access to the wide range of supports available to all citizens.
Retired personnel also have access to the strong support network provided by the recognised Veterans’ Associations. Officials from my Department and I hold regular meetings with three Veterans’ Associations, the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA), the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (ONE) and the Association of Retired Commissioned Officers (ARCO). I most recently met with them last Friday, 13th November 2020 and discussed issues of concern to their members.
As part of the supports currently offered to veterans, my Department has Service Level Agreements in place with ONE and IUNVA which set out the services the Department provides to these Associations. Under the terms of these SLAs, my Department provides financial support by way of annual subventions of €100,000 to ONE and €11,000 to IUNVA respectively to support their work and the range of services they offer to ex-service personnel.
ONE provides accommodation (board and lodgings) for 49 homeless, elderly and disabled ex-service personnel in three residential homes in Dublin, Letterkenny and Athlone, while IUNVA accommodates 4 retired personnel in its home on The Curragh.
ONE currently has 12 Veterans Support Centres (VSCs) nationwide, while IUNVA operates drop-in centres at 8 of its 22 posts around the country. My Department has assisted ONE in its plans to establish a network of VSCs nationwide. ONE plans to establish a total of 15 VSCs. The VSC aims to prevent homelessness through early intervention and to actively address loneliness. VSCs are available to all veterans to seek support and advice, not just to ONE members.
Departmental properties have been made available to ONE and IUNVA to house their VSCs and drop-in centres. 9 of ONE's VSCs are located in military barracks, as are 3 of IUNVA's drop-in centres. Refurbishment work has been undertaken on a number of these properties to facilitate their use by the organisations. 11 of the 15 VSCs which ONE are in the process of establishing will be based in Defence Forces barracks.
As a further means of assisting the recognised Veterans Associations, my Department secured total funding of €300,000 awarded under the Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan 2020 to assist ONE and IUNVA with specific special projects. ONE has nominated the provision of a VSC in Cobh, Co. Cork as their special project. Work is currently underway refurbishing a former Social Welfare Office premises in Harbour Row, Cobh.
A component of IUNVA’s nominated special project under the Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan 2020 is to increase the training facilities available to its members at nine of its posts around the country.