Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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155. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a proposal for income tax relief for graduate entry medicine loans (details supplied); if he will consider the proposal in view of its potential for retaining Irish doctors in the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36130/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, a pre-budget submission has been made to the Minister for Finance in relation to this proposal and matters relating to taxation policy fall within the remit of the Department of Finance.

The recruitment and retention of doctors in the public health system is a priority for me as Minister for Health. That is why I am committed to the implementation of the recommendations of the Strategic Review of Medical Training and Career Structure completed earlier this year.

In July 2013 a Working Group, chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, President of DCU, was established to carry out the Strategic Review. The Working Group was tasked with examining and making high-level recommendations relating to training and career pathways for doctors with a view to:

- improving graduate retention in the public health system;

- planning for future service needs;

- and realising maximum benefit from investment in medical education and training.

In the course of its work, the Group considered issues including:

- the pathway for training at every level from Intern to Specialist;

- mentoring practices and career planning supports for medical graduates;

- measures to improve the quality of the training experience;

- career structures for doctors on completion of training.

The Strategic Review reports address a range of barriers and issues relating to the recruitment and retention of doctors in the Irish public health system, and offer solutions and recommendations that will enable us to build a sustainable medical workforce for the future.