Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Health if the income for new-entrant general practitioners training has been cut by 20%, even though they are not entitled to specialist registrar status or salary; and if the out of hour allowance for general practitioners in their registry year has been abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38210/12]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Act 2009, a reduction in a range of GP fees and allowances was introduced in 2009 and 2010. General Practitioner (GP) trainees did not specifically receive a cut in salary, other than the salary reduction applied to all staff in 2010. In addition, new entrant interns are subject to the new entrant salary scale which has been reduced by 10%. The GP Trainee Allowance continues to be paid for existing GP trainees, but is not being paid to any new beneficiary with effect from 1st February 2012, pending the outcome of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's Review of Allowances.

In relation to the out-of-hours payment to GP trainees, this payment has not been abolished. However, out-of-hours payments have been suspended for this year's trainees who are moving from a hospital placement to a General Practice placement, i.e. 3rd year trainees (not having been in receipt of this allowance previously). GP trainees in their 4th year of training will continue to get the out-of-hours payment this year. Final decisions on this will depend on the outcome of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's Review of Allowances.