Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 February 2023
18. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of fully-qualified doctors in the Defence Forces; the establishment figure for doctors in the Defence Forces; the number that are currently active in Ireland at this time; the roles they are employed in; the number of locums that are being used by the Defence Forces; the number that are serving abroad; the specific missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5157/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the outset, I would like to state that all doctors employed by the Defence Forces are fully qualified.
The military authorities inform me that the current number of Defence Forces Medical Officers is twenty-two (22), plus one (1) civilian consultant psychiatrist. The establishment figure, including the position of psychiatrist, is 28. The effective Medical Officer strength is currently 20.5 as three officers are undertaking the Military Medicine Training Scheme, which requires them to rotate every six months between Defence Forces and civilian general practice. Two of these doctors will graduate from the scheme in 2023 giving an increase in strength of one full time doctor, and two direct entry Medical Officers are in the process of being security cleared from the ongoing recruitment campaign.
All Medical Officers not overseas are active in Ireland. The overseas contingent is based in UNIFIL and UNDOF. For periods of the year, there are Medical Officers on pre-deployment form-up with the deploying unit or on post-deployment Overseas Mission Return Leave. Medical Officers are employed in Occupational Medicine, Primary Care, Force Health Protection, Medical Administration, Medico-Legal duties, Training & Education, Overseas and other roles as assigned to them. With reference to locums, there are 13 doctors engaged through an externally contracted service to provide Sick Parade at military installations.
Medical Officers are key enablers to ensure a layered level of medical cover for all operations undertaken both on land and overseas.
The recruitment and retention of trained medical personnel, as with other specialist areas within the Defence Forces, is a matter of priority.
