This question covers a number of related but sep arate matters. There will be a significant development of general practitioner services under the national development plan commencing next year. The exact level of allocation that will fall specifically to general practice development is currently being finalised in my Department in the context of a number of particular projects and strategic goals.
The Government position on private health insurance can be found in the recently published White Paper which contains a section on primary care insurance, Paragraphs 5.36 to 5.45. The White Paper states that the Government considers that the further evolution of private health insurance should include steps to promote the position of primary care in the system and have regard to the particular role that general practitioners are positioned to play in maintaining and improving the health awareness and status of the public. Legislation is currently being prepared in my Department to give effect to the White Paper's conclusions and recommendations and such legislation will, it is scheduled, be introduced next year.
In March of this year, an agreement was reached with the Irish Medical Organisation, in the context of extending medical card eligibility for the over 70s, on the issue of so-called excluded doctors, that is, doctors who did not have a GMS scheme contract. That agreement provided for a one-off scheme of entry to the GMS scheme for doctors in practice on 1 March having the requisite qualifications and required experience on that day or subsequently. Those arrangements are now operating and I have no plans for further action in this area.
The matter of tax is one for my colleague, the Minister for Finance, but my Department and the health boards have provided, and continue to provide, funding for general practice development through the GP capital fund and the GP development fund. The indicative drugs target savings scheme provides an additional source of finance for general practice developments. General practitioners already have considerable access to hospital diagnostic services. In each health board area, the question of further developing access is kept under ongoing review and I am satisfied that this is the best way to proceed.