Brendan Howlin
Ceist:19 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence the number of medical personnel employed by, or on contract to, the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Personnel.
The total number of medical personnel employed by, or on contract to the Defence Forces is 109.
Is the Minister aware that at present there is a shortfall in the number of qualified medical personnel required in the Defence Forces? Can he indicate whether there are any plans to recruit additional medical personnel for the Defence Forces?
We recently advertised vacancies in the Army medical corp and the Army nursing service for four medical officers, one dental officer, two pharmacists, one physiotherapist and two radiographers.
Is the Minister aware that only three people replied to the advertisement for four medical officers? Does he not agree that there is a need to look again at the terms of the contracts being offered to these highly qualified people in order to attract them into the Defence Forces and the medical corp?
I will look at the matter.