Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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195. To ask the Minister for Health the specific criteria for a general practitioner to partake in the free general practitioner scheme for those under six years of age; and the qualifications or education a doctor must have completed. [25336/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Any suitably qualified GP can enter into a contract with the HSE for the provision of services to children aged under 6. The contract is available to those doctors (a) whose name is included in the Specialist Division of the register of medical practitioners established under section 43(2)(b) of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007; and (b) who hold a current certificate of registration within the meaning of section 2 of that Act in respect of the medical specialty "General Practice" recognised under section 89(1) of that Act - the Health (General Practitioner Service) Act 2014 refers.

Under the Health (General Practitioner Service) Act 2014, there is a six months "grace period" following commencement of the legislation, whereby doctors holding GMS or GP Visit card contracts can enter into the new under 6 contract where they are not on the specialist register.