Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 295: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of doctors, nurses, dentists and so on in the Defence Forces Medical Corps; the number of vacancies in the corps; and if additional recruitment is likely in the corps. [12701/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The PA Consulting Review of the Defence Forces Medical Services was completed in 2009, with implementation of the Review's recommendations progressing. In the context of the commitment in the Programme for Government to implement the Review's recommendation I expect that substantial progress will be made in this regard over the coming months. An important part of the implementation has been the establishment of a new structure for the Medical Corps. Within the new structure there is provision for 32 Doctors along with 8 Dentists and 12 Nurses. Currently there are 17 Doctors (including a psychiatrist), 5 Dentists and 14 Nurses serving in the Defence Forces Medical Corps.

The Government Decision on the implementation of savings measures on public service numbers is being applied to the Defence Forces in general. However, given the current shortage of Doctors approval was received from the Department of Finance for an exemption from the moratorium on recruitment in order to hold a competition for the appointment of Doctors to the Defence Forces Medical Corps. This competition has commenced.

Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 296: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of military personal by rank in each military barracks in the Eastern Brigade. [12702/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The current strength of 2 Eastern Brigade is 2185 personnel. Table 1 below gives a breakdown of the ranks of the 2185 personnel. Table 2 sets out the number of personnel serving in each of 2 Eastern Brigade's military barracks. For security and operational reasons it is not possible to provide a breakdown of the ranks serving in individual military barracks.

TABLE 1

Breakdown of Ranks in 2 Eastern Brigade

TABLE 2

Barrack Strengths