Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

The establishment for medical officers — doctors — in the Permanent Defence Force is 47. The current strength of medical officers is 23. Of these, two are on leave of absence without pay and five are serving on a short service commission, of which two are serving in Liberia. The services of civilian general practitioners are regularly engaged to provide primary care when medical officers are not available. The Defence Forces are dependent, in the normal course, on civilian health care facilities for secondary and tertiary hospital services.

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