All Defence Forces members are to get access to private healthcare.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin told the PDFORRA conference today that the decision has been made and resources have been allocated to fund the measure.
The association representing 6,500 enlisted members of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps is holding the three-day event in Trim, Co Meath.
He said it meant that members would be able to avail of referrals to private consultants and hospitals, but that some work still needs to be done to implement the measure.
Mr Martin said that the measure would be of "immense benefit" to the ranks represented by PDFORRA, and would facilitate their faster access to treatment and recovery.
A scheme to allow sergeants due to retire to extend their service until the end of 2024 has also now been extended to the rank of Private and Corporal.
He said that the issue of mandatory retirement ages is being considered by an interdepartmental working group.
He said it was a priority for him and he will continue to engage with the Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe about it.
Addressing one of the key demands of the representative body, the Tánaiste also said that he has directed military management to progress the implementation of the working time directive as soon as possible.
Mr Martin said the measures were part of a "once in a generation transformation" of the Defence Forces.
Earlier, PDFORRA President Mark Keane said the main concerns of members were "recruitment, retention and remuneration".
Mr Keane said that they wanted a "structured pay rise", with the implementation of the working time directive.
"We currently do not attract premium rates of pay for excess hours. That's the thing we have to look at. We are lagging behind the public service and private sector."
"If we are going to make the defence forces an attractive place again for young people to take up a career, we have to have best practices in place.
"We cannot expect people come in to serve at sea, overseas or in the State and work long, hard hours and not be rewarded for the work they are doing."
Mr Keane said addressing this issue of increasing allowances for working extra hours would be a "sea change" and that having a structured working week would lend itself to more family friendly practices.
PDFORRA said that there will be a "significant number of motions" at the conference in relation to the Naval Service, which it said has seen ships fail to be put to sea due to a lack of crews.
Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Seán Clancy will also address the conference today.
Later in the week, the first Ombudsman for the Defence Forces, Paulyn Marrinan Quinn SC, will speak to delegates on the history of the establishment of her office and initial reports of the Independent Monitoring Group.
The conference has traditionally been held in October.
However, it has been moved up the calendar as part of structural changes to bring the organisation in line with the wider trade union movement.
Speaking before his address, Mr Martin said he would continue to work with PDFORRA and other representative bodies on the implementation of the recommendations of an Independent Review Group report about gender-based violence, harassment and bullying within the Defence Forces.
