Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Defence the position regarding the implementation of recommendations from the Defence Forces Medical Services Review; the recommendations he will now be prioritising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12053/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The PA report presented an assessment of the arrangements then in place for the provision of medical services for the Defence Forces and proposed a model for the future delivery of those services. The consultants recommended a programme of major change. As recommended by PA, a number of working groups were set up to proceed with the various projects. The working groups were tasked with identifying the practical steps that needed to be taken to achieve implementation of the PA vision for the future medical service. Of the five working groups, four have now completed their final reports, which have been accepted by the steering committee, while the fifth is due to submit its final report at the end of this month.

One of the key issues identified by PA was the requirement to provide for appropriate support and administrative structures to support the management and delivery of modern medical services. However, the PA report did not identify the detailed structures, numbers and processes needed within the recommended centralised command structure. This is the type of work which was undertaken by the working groups.

In the case of the recommended central command structure, the detailed report of the organisation and establishment working group has been approved and the implementation of the new central medical unit can now commence. This is a priority for the coming months and consultations with the representative associations, which have already been briefed on the medical review, are ongoing in this regard. The structure and systems recommended by PA are designed to meet the demands and needs of the modern Defence Forces. I am fully committed to providing a sustainable medical service to meet the needs of the Defence Forces both at home and overseas.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. Four of the five working groups have completed their work, while the fifth is due to report at the end of the month. Did these groups consider the different areas covered by the review? Will an additional report be forthcoming when the fifth working group has completed its deliberations? One of the measures which has been put in place is designed to ensure that there will be a systematic collection of all medical data by the Defence Forces in order that they can plan better and distribute health resources to meet health care demands. Will the Minister comment on that matter?

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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When the final working group has completed its deliberations we will have a clear vision of the way forward. I am anxious to implement what is necessary in this area. It is important that members of the Defence Forces should have available to them a modern medical service which meets their needs. We are going to ensure that we take the necessary steps to implement the conclusions reached by the various groups. I will be in a position, at a later stage, to provide the Deputy with additional information in that regard.