Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 268: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the range of financial and other assistance and remunerations available to general practitioners from his Department, other Departments and associated agencies; the increases in such assistances and remunerations since 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22404/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Social and Family Affairs pays medical certifiers, who are in the main GPs and hospital interns, to provide medical certificates and reports for the purposes of its illness, disability and carer schemes. There are approximately 6,500 registered medical certifiers, some 3,000 of whom are active at any one time. The fees for medical certificates and reports are negotiated with the Irish Medical Organisation, generally for a three-year period. The latest agreement expired in July 2004 and is currently being renegotiated. In the meantime, payment continues at the previously agreed rates. Payments are made quarterly: February-April, May-July, August-October and November-January.

The increase in total payments is attributable to several factors, primarily the increase in the insured population and the introduction of new schemes such as disability allowance, carers' benefit etc.

Table A shows the fees payable for the years 1997 to date, while Table B shows the number of medical certificates and reports, and the total value of these payments for the years in question, except for the year 1997 for which the relevant information is no longer available.