Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 3, before section 2, to insert the following new section:

"PART 2

REPORTING SYSTEMS

2.—The Minister shall, on a monthly basis, lay before the Dáil a report on the number of General Practitioners that have accepted any new capitation rate in place since October 2008, or any subsequent variation to that rate.".

This amendment entails the inclusion of a new section, which requests that the "Minister shall, on a monthly basis, lay before the Dáil a report on the number of General Practitioners that have accepted any new capitation rate in place since October 2008, or any subsequent variation to that rate". Fine Gael seeks information on this issue because making savings on the changed capitation scheme appears to be one of the critical reasons for the introduction of the legislation in the first place. As the scheme negotiated by the Government in 2001 was considered to be too expensive, it was deemed to be in need of urgent change. Will the Minister lay before the Dáil a report, on a monthly basis as requested in this amendment, so that Deputies will have an opportunity to ascertain how many GPs have taken up the new capitation rate suggested by the working party, as well as the extent of the savings on an ongoing basis?

Members are short on detail on this scheme. This mechanism would ensure the Houses of the Oireachtas were kept informed as the issue progresses. At present, Members do not know whether any GPs have agreed to the scheme. While technically, the Government cannot negotiate with the GPs, I am unsure whether the Minister of State has information on the number of GPs who have indicated their acceptance of the new capitation rate. However, this matter is central to the type of savings the Minister of State outlined in the House earlier today. I understand she spoke of substantial savings in respect of this change. It is too bad that it was necessary to negotiate such change on the backs of elderly people losing their medical cards. Nevertheless, it would be useful to ascertain what progress was being made on this recommendation, what proportion of GPs agreed to it or otherwise and its potential impact on the delivery of treatment, particularly in respect of those in receipt of medical cards.