Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 746: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of dental hygienists employed in the Defence Forces as of April 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15726/10]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Military Authorities that, currently, there is one dental hygienist employed in the Defence Forces. However, dental officers also carry out this type of work. The overall structure of the dental service and the dental hygienist requirements of the Defence Forces is being considered in the context of the restructuring of the Medical Service.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 747: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of doctor positions remaining to be filled in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15727/10]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Following the publication of the Independent Strategic Review of the Defence Forces Medical Service by PA Consulting, my predecessor asked that implementation of the recommendations proceed immediately. As you are aware, the PA Report has recommended a programme of major change. The high level recommendations include:

A centralized command structure for the Medical Corps

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

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

A reduction in the number of doctor interventions, medical assessments and better management of health services outsourcing.

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.

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

To this end a governance structure for the delivery of change in this area has now been put in place. It consists of a high level Steering Group composed of senior military and civilian personnel. The role of the Steering Group is to provide planning guidance, clarify the approach to recommendations where required and ensure that the project is implemented effectively.

A dedicated Programme Group with civilian and military representatives has also been established and is now co-ordinating a range of projects. It is progressing a number of the PA recommendations including the structure of the Medical Corps, the alignment of Defence Forces and Medical Corps strategies and the development of medical information systems. Work is in progress on the recommendations on training and education, clinical issues,the centralised command structure, financial arrangements and outsourcing and medical information systems. A number of Working Groups are currently in operation to progress these issues.

There are currently 20 Medical Officers serving in the Defence Forces. The number of medical positions ultimately required to achieve implementation of the recommendations in the PA Consulting Report is dependent upon the completion of the work of the various Working Groups and at this point in time no decision has been made on the final numbers.