Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 February 2026
1120. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health if any additional supports will be provided to general practitioners in the most deprived areas to assist with the chronic disease management programme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8254/26]
View answerGPs who hold a GMS contract are reimbursed for the services they provide under the contract through capitation payments and fee-per-item payments for certain services. Practices also receive a range of financial supports.
Under the GMS scheme, the financial supports available to eligible GPs/GP practices include practice staff supports, locum contributions for leave taking, rural practice supports, and a support for practices in urban areas of deprivation. A contribution to GMS GPs medical indemnity insurance is also paid.
GPs with GMS contracts are paid a subsidy towards the cost of employing a practice nurse and/or a practice secretary. A practice manager subsidy is also available. The rate of these subsidies was increased under the 2023 GP Agreement, which also introduced a new support grant for additional staff capacity as well as a staff support for the taking of maternity leave.
In addition, the 2019 GP Agreement increased the practice support package for rural GP practices by 10%. Practices in receipt of rural practice supports attract the maximum allowable rates for practice staff support subsidies and locum contributions for leave taking.
There is no additional support for GPs in socially deprived areas specifically for the delivery of the GP Chronic Disease Management (CDM) programme, however the 2019 Agreement introduced a support available to eligible GPs in socially deprived urban areas to provide additional services. The grant can be used for covering the costs associated with a range of additional clinical supports depending on the needs of the practice concerned, such as increased doctor or nurse hours, increased key worker hours, or additional counselling hours.
Following extensive engagement between relevant stakeholders, it has been agreed that the distribution of the grant will be concentrated so that eligible GMS GPs will receive significantly increased amounts, allowing for more meaningful support for the practices concerned. This change applies for allocations awarded for 2025 onwards.
Under the GP Chronic Disease Management (CDM) programme, specific payments are made to all participating GPs to cover the costs of providing the services necessary under the programme. An annual fee is paid per patient on the treatment programme which varies dependent on the number of chronic conditions the patient has. Payments are also made in respect of patients on the CDM prevention programme and for each opportunistic case finding assessment undertaken. Furthermore, participating GPs receive a practice nurse grant for each CDM patient in respect of the services provided by practice nurses under the programme.
