Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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148. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider launching an incentive programme to recruit graduating medical students to stay in the medical system here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15604/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I recognize 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 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, four progress reports on the implementation of the recommendations have been published on my Department’s website. Implementation of the recommendations of the Strategic Review continues to be a priority for my Department and the Health Service Executive.

Other positive developments which will also address issues around recruitment and retention include: restoration of the Living Out Allowance for non-consultant hospital doctors appointed since 2012, which will be incorporated in to the basic salary of these doctors from 1 July 2017; the launching of a careers and training website; agreement by the HSE to double the number of family-friendly training places over a three year period, and the streamlining of processes and the elimination of paperwork burdens associated with rotations through the online National Employment Record.