Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2023
113. Deputy Cathal Berry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the reason the military medicine scheme for military medical officers has been so poorly resourced that the scheme appears to no longer be viable; if he will engage with the representative associations on improved terms and conditions for improved direct-entry medical officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29274/23]
View answerThe Military Medicine Training Scheme was adopted by the Defence Forces in 2015 as a means of addressing ongoing difficulties with the recruitment and retention of Medical Officers. The programme is integrated with the Trinity College Dublin/Health Service Executive GP training scheme. There are presently three (3) trainee doctors taking part in the Scheme.
I am advised that the Scheme has been adequately resourced since its inception. Intake for new applicants has been paused since 2021 in order to finalise a number of administrative issues and to allow for a joint civil-military review of the Scheme to be conducted. This review process concluded in 2022 and recommended the Scheme's continuation, pending the agreement of these outstanding issues.
I am informed that a Framework Agreement governing the Scheme has recently been agreed and signed following extensive engagement between my Department, the Irish College of General Practitioners, and the Health Service Executive.
This Framework Agreement covers the period 2023 to 2028, and is expected to ensure the viability of the Scheme in the coming years. In the meantime, Medical Officers continue to be recruited via the Direct Entry stream, as required.
The scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration (C&A) for members of the Permanent Defence Force provides a formal mechanism for the determination of all claims and proposals from the Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations, relating to remuneration and conditions of service and having regard to the provisions of public sector pay agreements.
Officials from my Department continue to work with the Representative Associations in a positive and collaborative process within the C&A Scheme to resolve issues. There is also ongoing engagement on a regular basis between the Official side and the Representative side on a range of items which are processed through C&A.
