Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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474. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the current strength versus the establishment of the Defence Forces personnel support service; and the status of the current capability of the service to support the welfare of Defence Forces personnel. [13323/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The PSS consists of a team of trained military personnel and occupational social workers located throughout the Defence Forces. The service is fully staffed, with 19 NCOs employed as Barrack Personnel Support Officers (BPSSO), and 9 full and part time Occupational Social Workers (OSW). One BPSSO appointment is vacant in 2 BDE as a result of the promotion of the incumbent and it is expected that this will be filled shortly. One BPSSO is currently deployed as BPSSO in UNIFIL and he will be replaced on rotation.