James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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78. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a psychiatrist has been appointed to the Defence Forces to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53504/19]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Following previous unsuccessful attempts in 2018 to recruit a direct-entrant military psychiatrist and locum psychiatrist for the Defence Forces, sanction was sought from, and granted by, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to conduct a competition for a contracted civilian consultant psychiatrist. The pay rates applicable are equivalent to those available in the HSE.

The Public Appointments Service recently conducted the competition. The closing date for applications was 26 September 2019.  Interviews were held on 6 December 2019 and a candidate has been selected. A clearance procedure is now underway in conjunction with other factors such as the notice period of the successful candidate. The Department will endeavour to finalise the process as expeditiously as possible.