Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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228. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the situation whereby the student debt burden on those qualifying from graduate entry medicine is so great that many are being forced to emigrate to secure remuneration that will allow them to make repayments, and that many of these newly qualified doctors cannot afford the Irish Medical Organisation registration fee; if he has considered incentives to retain these graduates here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17706/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I recognise that the recruitment and retention of medical doctors who graduate and are trained in Ireland is important to the effective functioning of the Irish health service, and is in keeping with our obligations under the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel.

In July 2013, a Working Group, chaired by Prof Brian MacCraith, President, Dublin City University, was established to carry out a Strategic Review to examine and make 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.

The Working Group completed its work in June 2014 and, in all, submitted three reports and made 25 recommendations. The reports address a range of barriers and issues relating to the recruitment and retention of doctors in the Irish public health system.

The Deputy can be confident that the implementation of the recommendations of the Strategic Review of Medical Training and Career Structure Working Group is a priority for my Department and the Health Service Executive . The Strategic Review recommendations are being implemented through a range of structures and processes across the health system. Each recommendation has an identified business owner and progress updates are sought by my Department on a regular basis. To support implementation of the recommendations, my Department has also established an Implementation Monitoring Group, comprising key stakeholders. To date, three progress reports on the implementation of the recommendations have been published on my Department’s website.

The Deputy may wish to note that on foot of a key recommendation the implementation of higher pay rates for new entrant Consultants, including provision for the application of incremental credits, was sanctioned in 2015.

With regard to the specific matter of the Irish Medical Organisation registration fee, this is not an issue in which I have any function.