General Practitioner Services

Tuesday, 5 November 2024

Ceisteanna (1183)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

1183. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No's. 134 of 8 November 2023 and 1674 of 9 September 2024, if progress has been made in negotiations regarding allowances paid to the 12 district medical officers GP to support them in the delivery of services in areas with reduced GMS populations; the reason for the inordinate delay in making a decision on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44791/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The payment known as the District Medical Officer salary is an allowance paid to a small number of GPs to support them in the delivery of services in areas with reduced GMS populations. Although usually referred to as a 'salary', it is not in fact a salary and the DMOs concerned are not employees of the HSE.

My Department has received a request in relation to increasing the rate of payment to DMOs. The request remains under consideration, as such I am not yet in a position to indicate whether an increase will be possible.