Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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73. To ask the Minister for Health if he will introduce an extra weighting when allocating resources to general practitioners to take into account the additional demand on services in deprived communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41360/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am pleased that we have recently been able to conclude an agreement with the Irish Medical Organisation on a major package of GP contractual reforms which will benefit patients and make general practice a more attractive career option for doctors.

The outcome of the talks process is a comprehensive service development and reform agreement in return for significant phased increases in funding for general practice services provided by GPs to medical card and GP visit card patients.

As part of the deal, it has been agreed that the GP rural practice allowance will be increased in 2020 and that targeted funding of €2 million will be set aside to provide additional support to practices in deprived urban areas.  The full details in relation to how the latter arrangements will operate, including the most appropriate basis on which to determine the extent of deprivation as it relates to the provision of GP services, is currently being developed by the HSE in consultation with my Department and the IMO.