John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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190. To ask the Minister for Health the process and the timeframe to introduce a new GMS contract which would facilitate the expansion of general practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27613/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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There have been significant developments in the general practice service recently, with more services being made available to our citizens and additional support provided by the HSE. Under a Framework Agreement, signed in 2014, the HSE, my Department and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) are currently engaged in a comprehensive review of the General Medical Services (GMS) and other publicly funded health sector contracts involving GPs.

To date, agreements have been reached in relation to universal GP care without fees for all children under the age of 6 years, universal GP care without fees for all people aged 70 years and over, a specific Diabetes Cycle of Care for adult patients with Type 2 diabetes who hold a medical card or GP visit card, a new Rural Practice Support Framework and a revised list of special items of service that can be provided by GPs.

I have recently met with GP representative bodies to discuss the future development of general practice and I have assured them of the Government's commitment to developing primary healthcare services for all our citizens and the key role of general practice in that context. In order to ensure that primary healthcare will be enhanced for our citizens by a new contract for general practice services, I am currently considering a number of options around the next phase of this process, including the most appropriate arrangements for GP and other primary healthcare providers' engagement. This will help to determine the time lines for the next formal engagement with GP representatives.