Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the Summerhill primary care centre and GP Care For All. GP Care For All is a registered charity based in the Summerhill primary care centre that provides GP services to the local area. Its aim is to deliver care to patients living in areas of social deprivation, providing access to GP services where it would otherwise be limited.

I assure the Deputy that GP Care For All and the care it provides to the community and its more vulnerable members is highly valued by the HSE and the Department of Health. Delivery of GP services in the area would be very difficult without the operation of GP Care For All. The Minister for Health, his Department officials and the HSE are aware of the current challenges facing the organisation. The core issue relates to the contractual arrangements between GPs and the HSE for the provision of services under the general medical services, GMS, scheme. Under the scheme, the HSE contracts individual GPs to provide GP services without charge to medical card and GP visit-card holders.

In general, a GP who holds a GMS contract is, under tax legislation, the chargeable person as regards income arising under the contract. I think that is what the Deputy is referring to.

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