Written Answers Nos. 642-655
643. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if childhood epilepsy, for which no medication is currently required, renders an applicant unfit for the Defence Forces; and the period of time that a person must be medicated and seizure free to progress with an application. [63921/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, working in the Defence Forces is a demanding career which places unique physical and psychological demands on individuals, exposing them to a unique range of challenging environments. In these circumstances, it is vital that the health profile of personnel be such as to ensure that operational capability and effectiveness are not compromised.
Candidates applying for positions in the Defence Forces are required to meet specific criteria, which include medical standards, for military service, as laid down in Defence Forces Regulations, made pursuant to the Defence Act 1954, as amended and extended. These requirements are based on the professional advice of the Medical Corps and having regard to the nature of the job, the duties of military service and the training exercises undertaken by members of the Defence Forces.
To this end, I wish to advise the Deputy that in line with Director of Medical Branch Instructions, along with Maritime and UN regulations and policies, that in the case of any diagnosis of epilepsy, a ten-year seizure free and medication free rule applies.
644. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will address matters in correspondence (details supplied); the options that are open to a person in this instance; if this person can appeal this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63955/22]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, working in the Defence Forces is a demanding career which places unique physical and psychological demands on individuals, exposing them to a unique range of challenging environments. In these circumstances, it is vital that the health profile of personnel be such as to ensure that operational capability and effectiveness are not compromised.
Candidates applying for positions in the Defence Forces are required to meet specific criteria, which include medical standards, for military service, as laid down in Defence Forces Regulations, made pursuant to the Defence Act 1954, as amended and extended. These requirements are based on the professional advice of the Medical Corps and having regard to the nature of the job, the duties of military service and the training exercises undertaken by members of the Defence Forces.
In relation to this specific case, the Deputy may be aware that the applicant in question applied for the Naval Service Reserve in March 2022. The applicant was interviewed in April 2022 and fitness tested in October 2022, before undergoing a mandatory medical assessment in November 2022.
A Defence Forces Medical Officer, as a Military Medicine Practitioner, determined that the applicant in question did not meet the medical requirements necessary to enlist. Under Defence Forces Regulations, only Defence Forces Medical Officers are permitted to determine an individual’s medical suitability for induction into the Defence Forces.
I further wish to advise the Deputy that the decision taken in this case, was made in line with the Director of Medical Branch Instructions, along with Maritime and UN regulations and policies.
I am advised that the applicant may appeal the decision in their case through recruitment@defenceforces.ie if they wish to do so.
645. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will clarify the total number of Defence Forces personnel who will receive the Covid pandemic recognition payment in view of the fact that over 2,000 members provided support to essential services, in particular both in our hospitals and in the vaccination centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1135/23]
View answerIn January 2022, the Government announced a COVID-19 Pandemic Recognition Payment (PRP) for front-line public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. At Government level, the Department of Health has primary policy responsibility for this initiative, with the consent of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
The payment is not subject to income tax, USC, or PRSI. The Government announcement also made provision for a pro-rata application of the payment. The payment amounts to €1,000 for those eligible staff who worked at least 60% WTE, for at least 4 weeks during the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021, and €600 for below 60% WTE. Those who worked less than 4 weeks are not in scope.
The measure is ring-fenced to eligible staff ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments. In terms of Defence Forces personnel, this means members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE.
Work to identify all COVID-related duties undertaken by members of the Defence Forces was completed as an initial step in identifying personnel who are eligible for this recognition payment. Significant engagement subsequently took place between officials from the Department of Defence and the Department of Health to determine which of these duties, were deemed "in scope" and therefore eligible for this payment, under the Department of Health's scheme.
To date, on the basis of those eligibility criteria, 417 Defence Forces Personnel have been paid the full €1,000 Pandemic Recommendation Payment. I can assure the Deputy that every effort is being made to ensure that Pandemic Recognition payments continue to be made to eligible Defence Forces members, in the shortest possible timeframe, as early as possible in 2023.
It is important to note however that ultimate interpretation of the scheme remains a matter for the Minister for Health, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
646. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will explain the appeal process for an applicant who applied to enlist with the Army cadetship service and was refused on mental health grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1170/23]
View answerThe Military Authorities have informed me that an applicant to a Defence Forces Cadetship, who is assessed to have not met the medical requirements/standards, can appeal the original finding to another Defence Forces Medical Officer. The reviewing Medical Officer will review the original finding and provide their professional medical opinion, be it that the original medical finding/assessment is agreed with or not. The appeal is requested through the Cadetship Competition board secretary or through the recruitment@defenceforces.ie email. The appeal must be requested when the competition is still open. The applicant is then informed of the reviewed assessment result.
647. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if any personnel from the Naval Service or Air Corps went to the United States for specialist military training in 2022. [1220/23]
View answerI am informed by the military authorities that no Naval Service personnel attended any specialist military training in the United States in 2022. Six (6) Air Corps personnel attended pilot flight training in Alabama and Florida with the United States Air Force from November 2021 until June 2022.
648. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will consider allowing all trained technicians to extend their retirement age beyond 60 years, given the level of training acquired in this field. [1453/23]
View answerMilitary life places unique demands on individuals and it is necessary that Defence Forces personnel are prepared to meet the challenges of all military operations. To this end, it is vital the age and health profile of personnel be such as to ensure that operational capability and effectiveness are not compromised in any way. For this reason compulsory retirement ages for ranks in the Permanent Defence Force are considerably lower than in other employments.
The White Paper on Defence (2015), provides that: “retirement ages and/or upper service limits of Defence Forces’ personnel of all ranks will continue to be kept under review and determined in accordance with key considerations such as manpower policy requirements, operational needs and international best practice”.
There are no plans at this stage to extend the mandatory retirement ages for enlisted personnel beyond 60 years of age.
649. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the specific delegated functions that have been transferred to Ministers of State appointed in December 2022, in tabular form; and the date of transfer. [1465/23]
View answerDeputy Peter Burke was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Defence on 21 December 2022 to act as a member of the Council of Defence.
Under Section 11 of the Defence Act 1954, there is a requirement that a Council of Defence shall stand established. The section also provides that the Minister of State at the Department of Defence shall be a member of the Council. As such, there is a legislative requirement that there is a Minister of State at the Department of Defence to discharge that function.
No functions of the Minister for Defence have been delegated to the Minister of State and full responsibility for defence policies, the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces remains with the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence who will represent Defence at Cabinet.
650. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the name of the company, organisation or persons contracted to provide media training to him from 1 January 2021 to date; the costs incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1502/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy, that I have not availed of media training from any organisation or persons from January 1, 2021, to this date.
651. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if he will outline the investment plans for Custume Barracks, Athlone, following the recently announced capital budget for the Defence Forces. [1522/23]
View answerThe Defence Forces Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP) sets out a programme of anticipated project delivery based on the achievement of the high-level goals as set out in White Paper 2015. The Plan is iterative in nature thus ensuring that it remains relevant and that investment is targeted where most needed. A midterm review of the Plan was recently completed by my Department and the Defence Forces to ensure the Plan continues to reflect current operational requirements.
In respect of Custume Barracks the following projects are either ongoing or scheduled for progression in the coming year at a combined cost of €1.8m (VAT incl):
- EV Points Enabling Works,
- Upgrade to Main Helipad,
- Replacement of EAS Hangar,
- Band Hall Heat Pump Installation,
- Main Billet Block Heat Pump Installation.
652. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of applications and the number that were commissioned under the Naval Service direct entry scheme in each of the years 2019 to 2022, in tabular form. [1811/23]
View answerThe table below outlines the number of applications and inductions under the Naval Service direct entry schemes, by Officer and Other Ranks, for each year from 2019 to 2022:
|
Naval Service |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Officer- Applications |
82 |
73 |
76 |
85 |
|
Officer - Inductions |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Other Ranks - Applications |
52 |
220 |
116 |
124 |
|
Other Ranks - Inductions |
2 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
|
Total Applications |
134 |
293 |
192 |
209 |
|
Total Inductions |
4 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
Reasons for the high attrition rate include the following: -
- applicants ineligible from a qualification perspective,
- high percentage of no-shows at the various induction stages,
- failure to reply when applicants asked to forward their qualifications, and
- failed interview and fitness tests.
In the case of no-shows, the Defence Forces have been proactive in attempting to rearrange interview times more suitable to the applicant.
653. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 325 of 25 May 2021, if he will provide an update on the matter. [1904/23]
View answerI am advised by the military authorities that arrangements are in train to replace the plaque bearing a misspelling at the National Memorial to members of the Defence Forces who died in the service of the State, which is located in Merrion Square, Dublin.
When the matter was originally brought to my Department's attention in 2021, the replacement of the plaque was scheduled to coincide with other landscaping works in the vicinity of the Merrion Square memorial. Due to delays in these works, and the rotation of Defence Forces personnel, the replacement of the plaque and the correction of the spelling error has been delayed. However, I am advised that a replacement plaque for the memorial is currently being sourced and it is expected that this will be in place shortly at the National Memorial.
654. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the medical standards for recruits to the Naval Service in relation to epilepsy; if those standards allow for those who have had partial epilepsy that is deemed to have been resolved, to serve in the Naval Service; if he will outline the appeals process for those who have been rejected for a position in the Naval Reserve on medical grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2291/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, working in the Defence Forces is a demanding career which places unique physical and psychological demands on individuals, exposing them to a unique range of challenging environments. In these circumstances, it is vital that the health profile of personnel be such as to ensure that operational capability and effectiveness are not compromised.
Candidates applying for positions in the Defence Forces are required to meet specific criteria, which include medical standards, for military service, as laid down in Defence Forces Regulations, made pursuant to the Defence Act 1954, as amended and extended. These requirements are based on the professional advice of the Medical Corps and having regard to the nature of the job, the duties of military service and the training exercises undertaken by members of the Defence Forces.
To this end, I wish to advise the Deputy that in line with Director of Medical Branch Instructions, along with Maritime and UN regulations and policies, that in the case of any diagnosis of epilepsy, a ten-year seizure free and medication free rule applies to serve or enter in the Defence Forces, including the Naval Service Reserve.
An applicant may appeal any decision of rejection on medical grounds through recruitment@defenceforces.ie if they wish to do so.
655. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 321 of 29 November 2022, if he will provide further information on a facility (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2400/23]
View answerAs previously indicated, the majority of the site in question is not under the ownership of the Department of Defence, but rather that of a third-party; with the Department retaining a holding on the site of approximately 1 Hectare of the overall 10 Hectare site.
While no approach has been made by the Local Authority in relation to a transfer, my Department has no objection in principle to dispose of its holding on the site for the purposes cited by the Deputy should such an approach be made by Cork County Council.
With regard to the possible disposal of the Department's interest to Cork County Council, under General Finance Sanction S.55/3/55 the Department of Defence can dispose of property directly to Local Authorities for the purposes of house building, road widening or the provision of public amenities. There is no provision that allows the Department to liaise with Community Groups directly regarding the sale of a property. Outside of this General Sanction, the Department is obliged to dispose of surplus property by way of public auction.
