Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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83. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of medical staff in the Defence Forces by occupation in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47798/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I wish to state at the outset that the health and wellbeing of our Defence Forces is of the highest priority for me. The provision of a comprehensive range of medical services to ensure this is an issue to which the highest importance is attached, both in the Defence Forces and in my Department.

There are currently 4 Dental Officers, 5 Pharmacists, 1 Clinical Psychologist and 6 Nurses employed by the Defence Forces. These numbers have not changed across the period in question. An additional civilian Clinical Psychologist is currently engaged on a contract basis. There are currently 24 Medical Officers, which includes 4 Officers undertaking the Military Medicine Training Scheme. This number is up from 20 in 2015 and 2016, and 21 in 2017.

The medical services that are provided are constantly under review to ensure that they are of the highest standard and delivered in the most efficient way possible.