Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The collection of taxes and issues relating to the interpretation of tax law are a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. However, I am aware of the concerns raised regarding new guidance to be issued shortly by the Revenue Commissioners regarding the tax treatment of GP's GMS income.

Officials from my Department and the HSE have engaged with the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Finance to understand the context of the new guidance and to identify the potential operational issues which may arise following its publication.

Importantly, the guidance does not reflect a change in tax law, but clarifies how GPs’ GMS income should be treated for the purposes of tax under current tax law. To assist GPs and GP practices in complying with their obligations under tax legislation, Revenue will publish detailed guidance shortly. This will supplement the guidance issued to tax practitioners, through the Tax Administration Liaison Committee, in July of this year clarifying the correct tax treatment of GMS income. To allow GPs and GP practices time to make any necessary adjustments to their arrangements to ensure compliance with applicable tax policy and legislation, Revenue have implemented transitional arrangements up to the end of 2023.

My Department and the HSE are also engaged with the IMO and will remain engaged with them to address the potential operational issues raised.

The Strategic Review of General Practice, which is now underway, will examine the current contractual arrangements for the GMS, as well as other issues, and will propose measures necessary to modernise the contract.

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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256. To ask the Minister for Health the status of ongoing plans in terms of addressing the concerns raised by the general practitioners in Donegal (details supplied); if he will meet them to discuss these concerns as requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45443/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Urgent and Emergency Care pressures are no longer just experienced during winter periods and levels of high daily presentations and congestion are now being experienced throughout the year. While significant investment has been driven through Winter Planning and National Service Plans over the past three years, a new approach to Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) planning in now required in response this changing and increasing demand profile.

This approach is twofold:

• The delivery of an operational plan for Urgent and Emergency Care for the remainder of 2023, which was signed off by Government in July; and
• The delivery of a 3-year multi-annual Urgent and Emergency Care Strategy to provide a Vision and Framework for UEC for the next 3 years, which is expected to be submitted to Government in the Autumn.