Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the policies he will be implementing to ensure that there will be enough qualified general practitioners to ensure the smooth roll-out of the primary care policy as announced in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13281/11]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the action he proposes to take to increase the number of general practitioners, GPs; the numbers of GPs in the medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13465/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 66 together.

There are some 2,600 General Practitioners (GPs) in active practice (full and part time) in the State with another 300 doctors working as locums. On 5th May 2011, the HSE had contracts with 2,276 GPs for the provision of services to medical card and GP visit card patients under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. The Programme for Government provides that during the term of this Government, GP training places will be increased, GPs will be encouraged to defer retirement and GPs will be recruited from abroad. In addition, the EU/IMF programme provides for the elimination of restrictions on the number of GPs qualifying and the removal of restrictions on GPs wishing to treat public patients.

With effect from 1st July 2010, the number of GP training places increased from 120 to 157 per annum. The GP training programme is of four years duration - two years spent in hospital posts and two years in an approved general practice. One of the enabling steps which resulted in the increase to 157 training places was the setting up of an additional GP training programme in Dublin's North Inner City, an area identified by both the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) and the HSE as requiring additional GPs. The HSE is in discussion with the ICGP to identify a fast track mechanism of up-skilling doctors who are not eligible for GMS contracts because they are not fully qualified.

The EU/IMF programme provides for the removal of restrictions on GPs wishing to treat public patients by the end of the 3rd quarter in 2011. The Department is preparing proposals for consideration by the Government in relation to this commitment.

In relation to GP retirement, it is worth noting that GPs who hold a contract or contracts under the GMS Scheme and/or the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme and/or the Primary Childhood Immunisation Programme may from 1st October 2009 continue to hold their contract(s) until their 70th birthday. Similar arrangements also apply to new contract holders. At the end of April 2011, 24 GPs who were due to retire in 2009/2010 and 11 who were due to retire in 2011 had benefited from this extension. It is also intended that additional practice nurses will be employed and will be able to undertake certain work currently carried out by GPs.

All vacant GMS posts are advertised on the HSE website. It is expected that the removal of restrictions on access to GMS contracts will provide an incentive for GPs from abroad to come to practice here. The continued expansion of Primary Care Teams and Primary Care Centres will also assist in attracting GPs.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the time line for abolishing restrictions on general practitioners who wish to obtain general medical service contracts; and when he will introduce legislation reducing the rate of remuneration for GPs. [13412/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The EU/IMF programme provides for the introduction of legislative changes to remove restrictions to trade and competition in sheltered sectors by the end of the 3rd quarter in 2011, including removing restrictions on GPs wishing to treat public patients. The Department is preparing proposals for consideration by the Government in relation to this commitment.

During 2009 and 2010, fees payable to certain health professionals were reduced under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009 (FEMPI). In relation to General Practitioners (GPs), S.I. No. 262/2009 came into effect on 7th July 2009. This applied an 8% reduction to a range of GP fees and allowances, which resulted in a full year saving in the region of €34m. S.I. 638/2010 came into effect on 22nd December 2010. This applied various reductions to a range of GP fees and allowances, which will result in full year saving in the region of €44m.