Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy may be aware, the rural practice allowance was increased and expanded about a year ago so it is now easier to qualify for and there is more funding for it. This has helped to improve the situation somewhat when it comes to recruiting GPs in rural areas. However, times are changing and the willingness of GPs to work as sole traders is not what it was and there is an increasing expectation that people should be able to work as teams, which inevitably means a smaller number of centralised practices. I cannot give the Deputy any specific details on Manorhamilton or Leitrim. I will ask the Minister for Health to respond to the Deputy in that regard. In terms of the bigger picture, contract negotiations are now underway with the IMO, which is the union that represents doctors. I hope they will come to a conclusion quite soon and that we will be in a position to begin funding it from next year.

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