Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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69. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of efforts to recruit a psychiatrist to the Defence Forces medical corps; if he is satisfied that Defence Forces members receive adequate mental health supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48213/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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A review of the Defence Forces psychiatric service recommended the employment of a full time military psychiatrist. The previous incumbent providing these services to the Defence Forces on contract retired in May 2018 while arrangements were being made to implement this recommendation.

In the intervening period, patients presenting to Defence Forces Primary Carers (Medical Officers or contracted civilian GPs) with a requirement for urgent psychiatric assessment are referred to HSE A&E Departments. Here they are assessed by the duty on-call psychiatric staff who triage referrals and these patients will either be admitted for in-patient care or referred onward to HSE outpatient psychiatric services where appropriate.

To continue to provide an interim in-house service until such time as the military psychiatrist position could be filled, efforts were made to engage a locum psychiatrist. However, this proved to be unsuccessful.

Subsequently, it was agreed to launch a procurement process to contract a third-party private service provider for psychiatric services as a bridging arrangement pending the appointment of a locum or full time psychiatrist.

In addition, a direct entrant competition for the position of military psychiatrist was launched on 26th July 2018 and closed on 30th September 2018. No applications were received for this competition and further options are now under consideration as to how to proceed.

It must be stressed that there is no delay in referring patients requiring immediate psychiatric care or assessment. When presenting to HSE A & E Departments, those requiring hospitalisation are immediately admitted. For non-urgent outpatient cases the waiting time is approximately 3 months. In order to provide Defence Forces Primary Carers with the broadest range of options possible in dealing with the spectrum of cases that present to them, they have also been authorised to refer cases to local external private psychiatrists for outpatient treatment where deemed appropriate.

With regard to mental health supports generally, I can assure the Deputy that the health and welfare of the men and women of the Defence Forces is a high priority for me. Mental health services are part of a range of medical and non-medical services provided to ensure that Defence Forces personnel are medically fit to undertake the duties assigned to them.

In addition to the clinical supports I have already outlined, non-medical mental health services are provided by the Personnel Support Service (PSS). The PSS makes confidential services, including critical incident stress management, and psychosocial support available to all Defence Forces personnel through its network of Barrack Personnel Support Service Officers and occupational social workers at formation, unit and barrack level.

The PSS also supports contingents before, during and after overseas deployments and its trained personnel are deployed in response to any significant operational incidents at home or overseas. The service is also available to the families of serving personnel.

As additional support, my Department has arranged the provision of a confidential counselling, referral and support service, on a wide range of personal and work related issues, for serving members of the Defence Forces, civilian employees and Civil Defence members. A Freephone confidential helpline is available on a 24/7 basis 365 days a year and is staffed by fully-trained and experienced counsellors.

While I am satisfied that the available medical services offer comprehensive supports to Defence Forces members, I can assure the Deputy that they are kept under constant review.