Written answers

Wednesday, 24 February 2021

Department of Defence

Defence Forces Medical Services

Photo of Patricia RyanPatricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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386. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to address the inequality between officers and enlisted personnel in terms of healthcare provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10341/21]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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At present, a wide range of medical services are provided to members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) at State expense. These include: an annual medical examination, sick parades, attendance at GP surgery outside of sick parade and out of hours GP services, prescription services, laboratory services, physiotherapy, chiropody, radiology, ophthalmic examinations, mental health services provided by a psychiatrist and two psychologists, in-patient and outpatient public hospital charges, routine dental treatment, and the provision of overseas medical services including global comprehensive medical insurance in the case of Defence Forces personnel assigned to longer term overseas administrative posts.

Commissioned Officers and members of the Army Nursing Service can avail of private consultant appointments and diagnostic tests, and private/semi-private hospital treatment dependent on rank.

The Programme for Government contains a commitment to "ensure that all enlisted members of the Defence Forces have the same access to health care as officers currently do". A Working Group has been established to bring forward proposals on this matter and report back to me during 2021.

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