Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Defence Forces recruits who are injured in the course of their training are expected to meet the full costs of their medical expenses should they require treatment in a private hospital due to the lengthy waiting times for public treatment; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that injured recruits who may have to wait for up to two years for medical treatment or surgery in a public hospital are only given six months leave from the Army and are therefore forced to leave the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6691/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Medical treatment of military personnel is carried out as far as possible in a military hospital or other medical facility under the auspices of the Army medical corps. If the necessary treatment is outside the scope of the Army medical corps, non-commissioned personnel, including recruits, are referred for treatment in the public health service. Such personnel, in common with all citizens, are eligible for treatment as public patients in public hospitals.

The position with regard to recruits is that, under the provisions of Defence Forces regulations, each recruit must within a period of three months following the date of attestation be either finally approved or discharged in accordance with the provisions of the regulations. A recruit shall not be finally approved until he or she is considered suitable in all respects, including meeting the required medical standards for service in the Permanent Defence Force.

The regulations provide that in circumstances where recruit training has been interrupted or delayed, the three month period may, with the prior permission of the deputy chief of staff, be extended to a maximum of six months from the date of attestation. In determining the date by which a recruit shall be finally approved or discharged, periods of sick leave, special leave or privilege leave may, at the discretion of the deputy chief of staff, be excluded.

A recruit discharged from the Permanent Defence Force on the grounds of not having been finally approved for medical reasons may reapply for consideration for enlistment at a later date when any medical treatment required has been completed. Applicants are now required to satisfy the military authorities that they meet the minimum medical standards and other criteria for enlistment.

Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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I know the Minister applies common sense to whatever he does and says. However, the case I raise was brought to my attention by an Army recruit who suffered an injury during his first week in training. The Army doctor advised him to seek further medical treatment, which he duly did, and medical experts advised him that keyhole surgery was required, but that he would have to wait two years to be treated publicly. Alternatively, he could be treated privately, almost immediately, at a cost of €5,000. The Army informed him it would not make any contribution to private treatment though the injury occurred while he was training with the Army. Moreover, the Army stated it would only give him six months in which to have the surgery so he had no choice but to pay for it in private practice. Does the Minister consider that reasonable and does he agree with it?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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It appears unreasonable on the face of it that distinction should be made in such an instance between officers and ordinary members of the Defence Forces. That is the way things have been traditionally because it was assumed that enlisted men and women had more access and eligibility under the public health service than officers. Obviously I have inherited that situation and it will be difficult to change it. During questions to the Taoiseach someone noted that if one gives something to someone, it is very difficult to take it away. It would not be practicable to extend private medical care to everyone.

I do not know if Deputy Sherlock has written to me about this case since I became Minister. I have asked for the matter to be checked out and I am told by the Department that it has no information about anyone who had to leave the Army in circumstances such as those mentioned. If Deputy Sherlock writes to me I will investigate the case.

Another case was brought to my attention. The military authorities advise that in the past three years their records show 11 recruits discharged, not finally approved, mostly for non-medical reasons. One recruit was discharged, and not finally approved, for medical reasons. Another was discharged as being not likely to become efficient.

The medical case was the one brought to my attention. The recruit was enlisted on 29 November 2001 and discharged on 17 March 2004. Her medical condition was not due to an injury sustained in training but was a continuing medical condition which necessitated repeated periods of sick leave. She appears to have been given a period in excess of two and a half years to attempt to complete her recruit training, which is well in excess of the minimum period of three months or the maximum period of six months in which recruits are required to be finally approved under Defence Forces Regulation A(10). If Deputy Sherlock writes to me about the case in question I will make inquiries as to why the same approach was not taken.

Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Does the Minister believe that the situation is blatantly unfair and will he consider changing it? I will write to the Minister about this issue.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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If recruits, particularly those injured in training, are discharged because they cannot have access to the public health service within the requisite six months, I agree that is unfair and must be looked at.