152. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Defence to advise on a case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50897/26]

The education of Defence Forces personnel, including the Military Medicine Training Scheme, and the administration of educational undertakings is managed by the Defence Forces.

I am advised that the Military Medicine Training Scheme is a five-year training programme leading to dual specialisation in both Military Medicine and General Practice. Participants are appointed on an eight-year short service commission, with specialised training completed over a five-year period followed by a three-year service undertaking, with the opportunity to apply for a commission without limitation as to time at the end of this period.

On joining the Scheme, participants spend two years working in HSE hospitals while being paid by the HSE. The final three years on the Scheme are spent alternating between six-monthly Defence Forces and General Practice placements while being paid by the Department of Defence.

The Terms and Conditions for the Scheme require that all participants commit to serve three years in the Defence Forces after completing the training, and to enter into a service undertaking to reflect this. Should an Officer wish to leave the Defence Forces before serving for this period, a reimbursement to the Exchequer, of training costs, pay and allowances, is then required. This is calculated based on costs paid by the Department of Defence while attending external aspects of the Scheme (i.e. GP placements) only.

The Deputy will be aware that the requirement to serve after periods of training is standard practice across the public and civil service where taxpayer money is paid to educate personnel. The purpose of these undertakings is to ensure that the Defence Forces obtain value for money for the considerable time, resources and taxpayer funding that is expended on the education of members, through either their serving an appropriate period in the Defence Forces or through the return of some, or all, of the costs involved. The Terms and Conditions associated with the Military Medicine Training Scheme are no different in this regard, and clearly set out that candidates are required to serve a period of time in the Defence Forces on completion of the Scheme.