Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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115. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the type of education supports that are provided to members of the Defence Forces such as those under the Military Education Strategy. [3640/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Training and education in the Defence Forces is conducted in line with national and international best practice, including the manner in which students are supported. On average, the Defence Forces conducts between 1,200 and 1,400 courses of training and education each year.

The Defence Forces is committed to the promotion of lifelong learning and the accreditation of Defence Forces training and education where appropriate. As such, the organisation has a number of collaborative partners across the Further and Higher Education sector including IT Carlow, Maynooth University, Munster Technological University and SOLAS. In addition to these partnerships, the Defence Forces operates a refund of fees scheme that facilitates personnel in accessing partial funding to pay for courses in which they are engaged in their own time.

The Defence Forces Policy on Specific Learning Difficulties (SLDs) provides information for Defence Forces training establishments, students and instructors on the supports available to personnel with SLDs. Guidance is available on disclosure, screening, teaching strategies, assistive technologies and assessment supports to be utilised. The Defence Forces has trained a number of Officers and Non Commissioned Officers as Student Liaison Officers to assist in the provision of these supports to personnel across the Defence Forces through the completion of a Level 9 Programme in Adult Guidance and Counselling. Defence Forces personnel are also supported to access further and higher education programmes through Recognition of Prior Learning and Work Based Learning Portfolios. These mechanisms allow access to programmes through non-traditional methods.

The Defence Forces has recently published its first formal Professional Military Education Strategy, covering the period 2021 to 2024. It builds on the Professional Military Education framework previously developed for Officer Ranks, as well as the annual Training and Education Directive.

The aim of the Professional Military Education strategy is to develop and maintain military capability by building on existing Professional Military Education concepts, incorporating 'best practice' approaches as utilised by other international military academies, Partner Nations, and national Higher Level Institutes in order to develop a future framework that clearly defines Defence Forces educational and career pathways, while also enabling an effective and progressive approach to the delivery of Defence Forces Education and Training needs. It will assist in ensuring that the Defence Forces attract, develop and retain high quality personnel and will underpin the capacity of the Defence Forces to fulfil the roles assigned by Government.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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132. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the work of the Commission on the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3186/22]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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151. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when the Commission on the Defence Forces will report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3769/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 116, 132 and 151 together.

The Programme for Government committed to the establishment of an independent commission to undertake a comprehensive review of the Defence Forces. The independent Commission on the Defence Forces was established by Government in December 2020 and its terms of reference provide for their examining and making recommendations regarding the structures and size of the Defence Forces, defence capabilities, HR polices and strategies, the Reserve Defence Force, governance and high level command and control in the Defence Forces, and pay structures. The Commission’s overall approach is guided and informed by both the White Paper on Defence 2015 and the White Paper Update 2019. The work of the Commission will inform the future development of the Defence Forces

As part of a broad consultation process, the Commission invited submissions from individuals and organisations on matters related to its terms of reference. The Commission received nearly 500 submissions, all of which have been published on their website.

The Commission has met with a broad stakeholder group including the Defence Forces Representative Associations, commissioned and enlisted members of the Defence Forces, senior officials and personnel from my Department and the Defence Forces as well as other groups. Members of the Commission also conducted site visits to military locations across the country, meeting nearly 1,000 military personnel. In addition the Commission held two webinars, one in conjunction with the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) and one in conjunction with the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA).

The Commission are finalising their work with a view to completing their report as soon as possible. At that point the report will be fully considered. Given the significant issues provided for in the Commission’s terms of reference, there will be a requirement for consultation with Ministerial colleagues on any matters that fall within their remit, and to consider the legal and governance implications of the Commission’s recommendations where required. I will also be seeking the views of my Department and the Defence Forces. When these deliberations are completed I intend to revert to Government with a proposed plan of action.

As the Deputy will appreciate, in advance of the publication of the report and the subsequent consideration of its recommendations, it would be inappropriate for me to engage in speculation regarding any of the Commission’s potential recommendations or the response to those recommendations.