Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 October 2007
44 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Defence the progress made to date in regard to the development of the role and contribution of the Medical Corps and the expansion of its capacity to deliver a range of medical facilities on UN mandated missions; and his further proposals in this regard. [21983/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe military medical services and their facilities exist primarily to maintain the health of the Defence Forces and to support them in operational and overseas activities. The focus of the military medical service is on primary care, acute trauma management, preventative medical programmes and field medical training.
The development of the capacity of the Medical Corps forms part of the agreed programme for Government. This includes the expansion of the capacity of the Medical Corps to deliver a range of medical facilities on UN mandated missions.
The key issue at this time is the acknowledged shortage of medical officers (Doctors) in the Medical Corps. Whereas the establishment for doctors provided for in the new organisation of the Defence Forces introduced on foot of the White Paper on Defence is forty seven (47), the current strength of Medical Officers serving in the Defence Forces is twenty three (23), one of whom is on leave of absence without pay. There has been recruitment of Medical Officers each year but the number attracted to work in the Defence Forces has just served to address natural wastage.
The problems with recruitment of medical officers into the Defence Forces have endured for some time despite the concerted efforts of my Department and the Defence Forces to address the root causes. The pay and allowances of doctors and dentists were increased substantially recently, in consultation with the Minister for Finance. This linked their pay to public health doctors and dentists. In addition, the Defence Forces have recently undertaken an intensive recruitment campaign. The results of both of these initiatives have been disappointing.
My Department has also been engaged in an ongoing process with the Representative Associations on the issue of the health requirements of members of the Defence Forces. A medical services charter was agreed under Sustaining Progress. This collaborative work has been carried forward into the modernisation agenda under Towards 2016 which foresees work on developing a revised structure for the delivery of medical services for the Defence Forces.
Ensuring that the medical needs of Irish troops are fully catered for is an important element of the planning in all overseas missions. This planning is typically done in conjunction with other participating contingents with a view to ensuring access to the appropriate treatment.
