Written answers

Wednesday, 3 May 2017

Department of Defence

Naval Service Staff

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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329. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Naval Service personnel serving in humanitarian missions in the Mediterranean who have availed of the Defence Forces' counselling services on an annual basis since the missions commenced in May 2015, in tabular form. [21013/17]

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the military authorities that Personnel Support Services (PSS) within the individual formations provide confidential services including Critical Incident Stress Management which is available to all Permanent Defence Force personnel. The Naval Personnel Support Services (PSS) office, under the direction of the Defence Forces PSS office, provide Pre-deployment Stress Management briefings to all Permanent Defence Force personnel deploying to the Mediterranean on OPERATION PONTUS, in accordance with the Defence Forces’ regulations.

Prior to a ship’s return to home waters, Naval Personnel Support Services (PSS) office again provide post deployment Stress Management debriefings to all Permanent Defence Force personnel engaged on OPERATION PONTUS in the Mediterranean, in accordance with the Defence Forces’ regulations.

No individual personnel have sought counselling services from the Naval Personnel Support Services (PSS) as a result of their deployment to OPERATION PONTUS in either 2015 or 2016. Nor have any Naval Service personnel serving in humanitarian missions in the Mediterranean been referred to the Defence Forces Mental Health Services (Psychologist and/or Psychiatrist services) since the missions commenced in May 2015.

In addition to Personnel Support Services (PSS), a confidential counselling service provided by an independent service provider is available to all members of the Defence Forces. Defence Forces personnel can access this service by calling a free phone number. A counsellor is available to talk, provide information, discuss needs and advise on follow up counselling. Face-to-face counselling can then be provided to individuals if required.

The service provider is bound to complete confidentiality by its code of practice with the only exception being where it has been identified that the individual poses a danger to themselves or others. The Defence Forces are only provided with anonymous statistical data for service evaluation purposes. No data which identifies individual users of the service or their location is provided. As such, it is not possible to ascertain if any Naval Service personnel serving in humanitarian missions in the Mediterranean have availed of the confidential counselling service.

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