Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 June 2021
53. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence the efforts he has made in respect of the commitment given in the Programme for Government to ensure that all enlisted members of the Defence Forces have the same access to health care as officers currently do. [34698/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware the Programme for Government contains a commitment to “ensure that all enlisted members of the Defence Forces have the same access to health care as officers currently do”.
I am advised that a joint military-civilian working group has been established to identify an approach to implementing this commitment. The Working Group will analyse the range and cost of treatments currently provided to Officers and assess how best to provide this access to enlisted personnel. The Working Group is currently due to produce its report by the end of 2021.
At present, a wide range of medical services are provided to members of the Permanent Defence Force at State expense. These include: an annual medical examination, sick parades, attendance at GP surgery outside of sick parade and out of hours GP services, prescription services, laboratory services, physiotherapy, chiropody, radiology, ophthalmic examinations, mental health services provided by a psychiatrist and two psychologists, in-patient and outpatient public hospital charges and routine dental treatment. In addition, commissioned Officers and members of the Army Nursing Service can avail of private consultant appointments and diagnostic tests, and private/ semi-private hospital treatment dependent on rank.
In the case of Defence Forces personnel assigned to longer term overseas administrative posts (e.g. EUMS, OSCE), these personnel, and any accompanying dependents are provided with global comprehensive medical insurance for which a formal arrangement is in place with a health insurance provider. This involves the organisation paying the difference between a basic minimum payment and the cost of the global plan.
The provision of this range of benefits is unique in the public and indeed the private sectors and these benefits are exempt from benefit-in-kind taxation.
