Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 46: To ask the Minister for Defence the timescale for the implementation of the PA Consulting Group Report on the Defence Forces Medical Services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24799/09]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Defence the position regarding the consultants report on the Defence Forces Medical Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24702/09]

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has considered the consultants report into medical services in the Defence Forces; the recommendations made by the consultants; the actions he proposes to take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24576/09]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 369: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has accepted the recommendations in the report of the consultants employed to review the medical services of the Defence Forces; if he plans that these recommendations will be implemented in full; the estimated timescale for the full implementation of the recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25224/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 46, 66, 79, 85 and 369 together.

The development of the Medical Corps in the Defence Forces forms part of the agreed programme for Government. I am committed to providing a sustainable medical service to meet the needs of the Defence Forces both at home and abroad.

As you are no doubt aware the challenges in the medical arena have been recognised for some time and a review of the provision of medical services has been ongoing as part of the Modernisation Agenda for the Defence Forces.

In view of the complexity of the challenge facing the Defence Forces in this area, I decided to engage PA Consulting to make recommendations on the best means of meeting the medical requirements of the Defence Forces.

In order to meet this objective PA Consulting reviewed the medical services required for the Defence Forces in light of their roles and operations as assigned by Government, assessed the current arrangements for the provision of medical services and proposed a model for future delivery of Medical Services.

The Consultants have recommended a programme of major change.

Their Report makes a number of recommendations. These include

a centralised command structure

the creation of a Medical Services Management and Administrative function. This structure will provide strategic planning, resource allocation and overall responsibility for the management and delivery of the medical service.

The development of medical officer lead care teams together with a re-focussing of medical staff on appropriate clinical tasks.

The report also recommends steps leading to a reduction in the number of doctor interventions, medical assessments and better management of health services outsourcing.

The structure and systems recommended have been designed to meet the demands and needs of the modern Defence Forces at home and overseas and provide Medical Officers with a fulfilling and rewarding career.

The Report reaffirms the need for a dedicated Medical Corps and addresses the challenges facing the Defence Forces in recruitment and retention of Medical Officers.

Implementation of the recommendations will result in major change at both strategic and operational levels in the Defence Forces. Thankfully in these difficult times, the Report shows that major additional investment is not needed to meet the medical needs of the Defence Forces. Change will be achieved in the main through better use of the available resources.

The PA Report is an important milestone in addressing the challenges to the provision of medical services in the Defence Forces. Implementation will take time and commitment. This will be achieved in consultation with the Representative Associations. I have asked that implementation of the recommendations of this report proceed immediately.

The Report makes a number of recommendations regarding a governance structure for change delivery in this area. The structure recommended, including a high level steering group composed of both military and civilian personnel, will be used. At a lower level a dedicated programme group with civilian and military representatives will manage the delivery of a suite of projects, which have been identified by the Consultants.

I welcome the recommendations and fully support their implementation. Implementation by the Military authorities will commence immediately. Certain recommendations will require further elaboration. Consultation with the Representative Associations will also take place.