Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 222: To ask the Minister for Defence if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 is entitled to reimbursement for private medical treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33629/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The medical care and treatment of enlisted personnel of the Permanent Defence Force is provided either directly by the medical corps, or where considered appropriate, by the medical corps referral to Health Service Executive facilities. Military personnel are free to attend private health care providers if they wish to do so, in a personal capacity as private patients, but the costs thereby incurred are not reimbursable by the Department of Defence.

The military authorities advise that, in the case referred to by the Deputy, no prior application was made for approval and there was no referral by the military medical authorities. However, when the member concerned discharged his private account with the consultant in question, the individual then applied for a refund from the Department of Defence. This application could not be approved, as there is no provision for such reimbursement of private medical treatment in the case of enlisted personnel.