Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 606: To ask the Minister for Defence the financial and medical arrangements which have been put in place for a army corporal (details supplied) who has recently retired from the army on health grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5477/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The military authorities have advised that once a member of the Defence Forces retires or is discharged from the Defence Forces, the Defence Forces do not provide any subsequent medical care or treatment post retirement-post discharge and nor do the Defence Forces meet the costs of such medical care or treatment. When the person in question is discharged from the Permanent Defence Force, he will be entitled to a pension and gratuity in respect of his military service.

On retirement or discharge, a former member of the Defence Forces may apply for a disability pension if his-her case falls under the terms of the Army Pensions Act. The provisions of the Act are notified to all members on retirement or discharge from the Defence Forces.

The Acts provide that a disability pension may be granted to a former member of the Permanent Defence Force in respect of permanent disablement due to a wound or injury attributable to military service or to a disease attributable to or aggravated by overseas service with a United Nations force. Those Acts require that application for a disability pension must be made within a time limit of one year after discharge in wound-injury cases and eight years in disease cases.

Enlisted personnel are covered for hospital and medical services, including medical cards, under the Health Acts on the same basis as other members of the community. They are also insured for the full range of benefits under the Social Welfare Acts, including unemployment benefit, disability benefit and invalidity pension.