Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 618: To ask the Minister for Health if curtailments in the doctor on call service has had any effect on the availability of doctors to attend in order to test drivers who are suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18850/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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GP out-of-hours co-operatives are now in place in all HSE areas, providing coverage in all or in part of all counties. In 2010, there were over 924,000 contacts with GP out-of-hours co-operatives and the total cost of funding the service was over €89 million. Over 2000 GPs provide services in the co-ops. The fees and allowances paid by the HSE to GPs were reduced in 2009 and 2010 under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009. "Distance from the GP's surgery" was removed as a factor in calculating out-of-hours fees as part of the 2010 reductions. Neither the Department of Justice and Equality or the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has indicated to me or my officials any difficulty concerning the availability of doctors, to attend to test drivers who are suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as a result of these reductions.