Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 144: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the retirement policy for general practitioners; if the retirement date can be extended for general practitioners in areas where there is a shortage of doctors (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27742/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme was established under the Health Act, 1970 to provide publicly funded general practitioner services to eligible people. Under the GMS Scheme general practitioners hold one of two contract types i.e. the Fee per Item contract (first introduced in 1972) or the Capitation contract (effective from 1989). These contracts reflect the agreed outcome of negotiations between the Department of Health and Children and the GP representative body, the Irish Medical Organisation. Both contract types contain provisions which were agreed between the parties on a range of issues, including retirement age.

Under the Fee-per-Item contract it was agreed that a GP might hold the contract up to age 70. The terms of the Capitation contract which was agreed between the parties provides that GPs who entered into contracts on the date of its commencement could hold the contract up to age 70 and in all other cases the GP would hold the contract to age 65. Any changes to these arrangements would require to be agreed between the parties involved and would have to include consideration of all relevant factors, including the pension arrangements for GMS GPs. General Practitioners may, of course, and subject to continued registration with the Medical Council, continue to practice and to treat private patients following retirement from the GMS Scheme.

A review of the contractual arrangements for the provision of services under the GMS and other publicly funded schemes commenced in October 2005 and is being conducted under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission (LRC). The Government wishes the new contractual arrangements to provide open access to public contracts for all qualified GPs registered with the Irish Medical Council. I am also open to considering whether it would be appropriate to change the present arrangements in relation to the age at which GPs must cease to hold contracts. I have therefore, asked my Department, in conjunction with the Health Service Executive (HSE), to consider this matter in the context of the joint review process being conducted under the auspices of the LRC.

I am committed to ensuring there is an adequate supply of doctors to meet future national GP manpower needs. Following consultation with the Irish College of General Practitioners, in 2004, it was agreed to increase the number of GP trainee places on GP vocational training schemes nationally from 84 to 150, on a phased basis. I have provided additional funding of €2 million in 2005 and an additional €4 million in 2006 has been provided to the HSE for this measure.