Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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819. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which outstanding matters remain to be resolved in the context of negotiations with general practitioners, such as the award of consultancy status, the filling of vacant posts, the number yet to be filled and timescale for such, the position in regard to Government-only contracts, the availability of training positions and any further issues still outstanding or arising from FEMPI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38146/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The GP Agreement on Contractual Reform and Service Development between the Department of Health, the HSE and the Irish Medical Organisation was concluded in April 2019. Implementation of the Agreement continues in consultation with the HSE and the IMO. In return for cooperation with the service developments and reforms under the Agreement, the Government will increase investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) between 2019 and 2023, providing for significant increases in capitation fees for participating GPs.

GPs are self-employed private practitioners, most of whom have contracts with the HSE to provide services under various public health schemes. As private contractors, the question of consultant status does not arise.

Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the recruitment process to find a replacement GP. As at 1st November 2020, there are 19 GMS vacancies, less than 1% of total number GMS panels. In each case a locum or other appropriate arrangement has been put in place to maintain GP services to the communities in question. It is not possible to provide a timescale for the filling of GMS vacancies.

Finally, regarding the availability of GP training, the number of GPs entering training has been increased steadily over recent years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 214 in 2020, with a further increase foreseen in 2021.The planned transfer of responsibility for training GPs from the HSE to the Irish College of General Practitioners, pending the resolution of certain outstanding issues, will allow for further increases in the number of training places in future years.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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820. To ask the Minister for Health the progress to date in the recognition of public health general practitioners as consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38147/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Consultant status for public health specialists under a new public health framework was recommended in the Crowe Horwath Report on the Specialty published in December 2018. It is also consistent with the role envisaged for the specialists in Slaintecare and Professor Scally’s Report on the National Screening Service ('CervicalCheck').

I, my Department and the HSE are committed to the early introduction of a new framework for public healthcare, as provided for in the Programme for Government. This will involve the establishment of a consultant-led public health model in line with the Crowe Horwath Report on the Specialty. My Department in conjunction with the HSE have completed a substantial amount of work on a detailed framework for the future public health model that includes consultant level roles. A related business case seeking consultant status has now been submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for early consideration.