Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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420. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding negotiations for a new GP contract; if he will consider introducing a salary for general practitioners to provide a service in rural areas as part of these talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35923/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The development of primary care is central to the Government's objective to deliver a high-quality, integrated and cost effective health service. The Programme for Government commits to a decisive shift within the health service towards primary care in order to deliver better care close to home in communities across the country. The development of a new, modernised contract for the provision of general practitioner services will be a key element in facilitating this process.

Engagements to date have seen the Department of Health, HSE and IMO agree a number of service developments including: the introduction of a Diabetes Cycle of Care for adult patients with Type 2 Diabetes; an enhanced support framework for rural GPs, which has seen an increase in the number of qualifying GPs to over 300; and a revised list of special items of service under the contract to encourage the provision of more services in the primary care setting. These measures, combined with the under-6s and over-70s initiatives, have increased the financial support for general practice.

Preparations for the next phase of discussions on a new GP contract are under way. These discussions will address a wide range of issues, including the role of GPs in delivering chronic care within the community. The option of salaried GPs for areas where it has proven difficult to attract and retain GP services, for example in isolated or socially deprived areas, is one of the issues I intend to have considered in the context of the development of a new contract. I expect that further engagement with GP representative bodies will take place before the end of the year.