Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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10. To ask the Minister for Defence the number of doctors employed in the Defence Forces; the number of contracts for service that the Defence Forces have with outside medical practitioners; if there are other more informal arrangements in place for such medical services and if so the detail of same; if any former members of the Defence Forces are providing, whether by contract or informal arrangement, such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5566/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Based on the medical requirement across the Defence Forces as a whole, there is a current requirement for approximately 32 doctors within the Defence Forces Medical Corps. I am advised by the military authorities that there are 18 Doctors currently serving with the Defence Forces. Against this backdrop, during 2013, a total of 42 medical practices, including those of 9 retired military medical officers, provided general practitioner medical services, as required, for military personnel on a contract for services basis. In addition, a total of 6 medical consultants, including one retired member of the Defence Forces, were engaged, as required, to provide specialist services for military personnel on a contract for services basis.

As I mentioned at the outset there is a current requirement for 32 doctors in the Defence Forces. While a competition for the appointment of doctors to the Defence Forces Medical Corps remains open, with applications being accepted on an ongoing basis, it has not proved possible to date to fill all of these positions. Due to the difficulty experienced in recruiting doctors to the Defence Forces it has been necessary to identify alternative options for the provision of medical services, including consideration of the outsourcing of Defence Forces domestic medical services. In this connection, a joint civilian/ military Standing Committee has been set up with a view to advancing the development of a sustainable integrated medical service and to address the appropriate means of delivery of key medical capabilities for the Defence Forces. An integrated model for the provision of the required medical services, involving both the Medical Corps and outsourced service provision is currently being progressed.

I would like to take this opportunity to assure the House that Defence Forces personnel requiring medical treatment are getting the care they need and that I am committed to providing a sustainable medical service to meet the needs of the Defence Forces both at home and abroad.