An average of over 200 Defence Force personnel were absent from work due to illness every day during the first three-and-a-half months of this year, new figures have revealed.
The statistic was described as “staggering” by an opposition spokesperson, who blamed low morale and poor job satisfaction for the high level of absenteeism in the army, air corps and navy.
Defence Force members took 21,163 sick days between January 1 and April 15 this year, according to data released to Fianna Fáil defence spokesperson, Jack Chambers, in response to a parliamentary question.
Army personnel accounted for 17,573 of these sick days, while members attached to the air corps and navy took a total of 1,748 and 1,842 sick days, respectively.
At the end of last year, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 8,989. This was comprised of 7,247 members in the army, 720 in the air corps, and 1,022 in the naval service.
Mr Chambers said the level of absenteeism due to sickness was “staggering” and highlighted the “perilous situation” faced by the Defence Forces.
“I understand sick leave across the Defence Forces is way out of kilter with comparable organisations, and these levels cannot be sustained,” he said.
“Clearly morale and job satisfaction have reached rock bottom. Despite huge recruitment campaigns, we are unable to keep pace with those leaving, and so we have vacancies right across the army, navy and air corps.”
Last August, it emerged that more than 30 soldiers stationed in a Donegal barracks applied for sick leave ahead of the Pope’s visit to Ireland. The majority of these were refused leave after they were examined by military doctors.
Politicians urged to honour eight surviving Jadotville soldiers before they dieIt was reported that the high number of personnel seeking sick leave was part of a protest against poor pay and conditions being offered to members of the Defence Forces to work during the papal visit.
“Defence Forces personnel are being overworked, causing serious health impacts and this is being reflected in these figures,” said Mr Chambers.
“All this is putting huge strain on the men and women doing their best in exceptionally difficult circumstances, and these figures show the net impact of having a dangerously understrength Defence Forces.”
Minister of State Paul Kehoe, who provided the statistics, said that sick leave is granted to members of the Permanent Defence Forces on the recommendation of an internal medical officer or, where this is not practicable, on the recommendation of a civilian doctor.
