Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government regards the development of our primary care centres as an absolute priority. The Minister said that he has three priorities. One of them was the development of the new GP contract. I am glad to say that discussions are under way through initial engagement with the GP representative bodies. That has been very important and it started in January 2017. The aim is to develop a new and modern GP services contract because, as the Deputy said, it has not been renegotiated for decades. It is absolutely essential. The discussions have started and it is a priority. The situation we want to arrive at is that the GP services contract will incorporate a range of standard and enhanced services to be delivered to the public. The discussions are under way and there is engagement.

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