Defence Forces

Wednesday, 18 February 2026

Ceisteanna (28)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Ceist:

28. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Defence to provide information (details supplied) on medical assessments for each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13393/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence (Deputy Helen McEntee)

The information sought by the Deputy has been requested from military authorities, who have indicated that it has not been possible to collate the data within the time frame available. I will revert to the Deputy when the information has been provided.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Orders.

I refer to the above-referenced Parliamentary Question and the information requested is set out below:

The total number of medical assessments (i.e. Occupational Medicals) completed broken down by year and medical assessment location

The total number of medical assessments completed for the requested period (2023–2025), broken down by year and medical assessment location, is included at Annex A below. These figures are inclusive of both the PDF and RDF.

The number of formal medical appeals submitted by applicants in each of those years, broken down by the medical assessment location; The outcomes of those medical appeals, specifying the number that were successful (upheld), unsuccessful, or withdrawn categorised by medical assessment facility

I am informed that the Defence Forces has received the number of formal medical appeals by personnel set out in the tables below over the relevant period. Members of the Defence Forces are assessed under a number of different medical criteria, for which they receive a graded medical classification. Their overall classification may impact on the duties that a member may perform. Members who are classified as Grade X are deemed to be below Defence Forces medical standards and may be considered as unsuitable for service. These appeals have been included separately below.

			Appeals to Medical Classification
Year	No. of Appeals	Appeal Location	Appeals Upheld
2023	30	1 Bde – 21 2 Bde – 9	0
2024	22	1 Bde – 18 2 Bde – 3 NS – 1	4
2025	13	1 Bde – 9 2 Bde – 2 DFTC – 1 NS – 1	4
2026	5	2 Bde – 3 DFTC – 1 NS – 1	0

			Appeals to ‘X’ Grade Classification
Year	No. of Appeals	Appeal Location	Appeals Upheld
2023	27	1 Bde – 12 2 Bde – 12 DFTC – 3	0
2024	21	1 Bde – 5 2 Bde – 12 DFTC – 2 NS – 2	0
2025	16	1 Bde – 3 2 Bde – 7 DFTC – 3 Air Corps – 1 NS – 2	1
2026	1	2 Bde – 1	N/A

I am further advised by the military authorities that information is not readily available for the precise origin of individual medical appeals. While the Formation/Service to which a patient belongs is readily identifiable from the medical IT System, collation of precise location data would require the examination of individual paper medical records for the patients in question, which is considered unfeasible given the time required and the prioritisation of current staffing resources.

An assessment of whether the Defence Forces maintain internal statistical summaries or monitoring reports relating to medical assessment volumes and appeal outcomes

I am informed that the Defence Forces Medical Branch maintains an appropriate database in relation to ‘Appeals to Medical Classification’ and ‘Appeals to X-Grades’, and is satisfied that the systems in place are effective and appropriate.