Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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157. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to provide additional support in 2018 for the work of general practitioners, particularly in rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48533/17]

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 for patients in Ireland. The Programme for Government and Sláintecare commit to shifting the model of Irish healthcare towards a more comprehensive and accessible service that can deliver better patient care closer to home in communities across the country, including in rural and disadvantaged urban areas. As part of this process, Budget 2018 allocated a further €25 million to the funding for primary care services.

In the context of the publication by my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform of the Public Service Pay and Pension Bill 2017, I announced my intention to undertake a process of engagement with the representative bodies of contracted health professionals in 2018. This process will aim to establish a new multi-annual approach to fees, in return for service improvement and contractual reform in line with Government priorities for the health service.

The Government is committed to ensuring the continued sustainability of general practice in rural communities. An enhanced supports package for rural General Practitioners was introduced in May 2016. The new Rural Practice Support Framework includes improved qualifying criteria for rural support and an increase in the financial allowance from €16,216 to €20,000 per annum. Over 300 General Practitioners now benefit from rural practice supports under this Framework, a significant increase on the 167 General Practitioners who received the Rural Practice Allowance prior to the introduction of the new measures.

General Practitioners play an important role in the primary care system. The next phase of negotiations on a new GMS contract with the representatives of General Practitioners is currently underway. There is a clear need to modernise the GMS contract and ensure that General Practice is a viable and rewarding career for medical graduates. I am confident that with the continued constructive engagement of the parties involved, progress on this important issue can be made in the period ahead.