Written answers

Tuesday, 31 March 2015

Department of Health

General Practitioner Services

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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478. To ask the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners in receipt of the rural practice allowance; the names of each general practitioner and the location of their practice; the number of persons living in the centre as specified in his Department's circular in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13037/15]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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479. To ask the Minister for Health the definition of centre in the context of the circular on the rural practice allowance issued by his Department; the method by which the population of a centre is measured for the purposes of this allowance; if it is based on the population statistics compiled by the Central Statistics Office; if so, the statistics used, for example, whether it is based on the population of electoral districts, townlands, towns or villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13038/15]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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480. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 362 of 3 March 2015, the basis on which the Health Service Executive states that the population of Renvyle is 1,330 for the purposes of refusing a rural practice allowance; the definition of centre used for the purpose of measuring against population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13039/15]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 478 to 480, inclusive, together.

Under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme, Circular 13/72, Appendix B (x) sets out the criteria for the awarding of a Rural Practice Allowance to a GMS doctor. The circular states that "where a doctor lives or practises in a centre with a population of less than 500 and where there is not a town with a population of 1,500 or more within a three mile radius of that centre the doctor will be entitled to special rural practice concessions", including a Rural Practice Allowance. The term "centre" is not defined in the circular.

It is envisaged that the review of the GMS contract and other publicly funded health sector contracts with GPs will include consideration of how best to support General Practice in urban/deprived and rural areas so as to best meet the needs of patients with regard to the provision of general practitioner services.

As the other matters raised by the Deputy are service issues, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply directly to the Deputy on these matters. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

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