Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

I welcome the report. I remind the Minister this was the first question I put when I became an Opposition spokesperson on defence. I am pleased the Minister has responded and set up and appointed a group of consultants to draw up a very comprehensive report. I believe the Minister would agree this is a damning report on the present level of health services to which our Defence Forces are exposed.

We have a very professional Defence Force which has responded very positively to the White Paper. It is now very well equipped, the command structure is streamlined and, overall, it is an extremely fit, lean force. However, in the medical area the Department has fallen down and it has taken several years for the Minister to realise as much.

Let us consider the findings of the report. For example, there is a 60% shortfall in medical assessment in the Defence Forces, which is damning and puts the lives of personnel at risk. There are chronic difficulties in recruiting medical personnel, especially for overseas missions. A very basic service such as physiotherapy is outsourced. Given the large number of physiotherapists available at present, it should be easy to recruit several to work within the Defence Forces in some fashion. Some 30% of dental care is outsourced. Referrals to HSE, Health Service Executive, secondary and acute care are not tracked or monitored hence there are potentially dangerous gaps in medical reports.

Overall this is a very critical report. I realise the Minister has given some assurances today that the findings of the report will be implemented immediately. Specific health care teams comprising doctors, nurses and physiotherapists could be set up immediately by the Minister. Will he give a commitment to the House that he will begin to implement the recommendations in this report immediately? Is the funding ring-fenced? He said there would be very little financial commitment. Is funding available to implement these proposals immediately?

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