asked the Minister for Health the amount of money which has been spent in 1987 and 1988 in the practice grant scheme which was introduced to encourage doctors to undertake expensive renovation and improvements to their clinics for the sake of the community; the amount which has been provided in the 1989 Estimates for this purpose; the number of doctors who are waiting for grants; and the amount which this involves as a total sum of money owed to doctors who undertook this work in good faith.
Written Answers. - Doctors' Practice Grant Scheme.
208.
The amount paid out by health boards to general practitioners participating in the GMS scheme, in respect of grants towards the cost of improvements etc., to practice premises was £35,683 in 1987 and £11,290 to date in 1988.
Regarding the amount provided for this purpose in the 1989 Estimates for Health, at this time, my Department and the Department of Finance have agreed the 1989 Estimates under broad headings only. It follows, therefore, that the 1989 allocations in respect of individual agencies have yet to be determined.
It would appear that the Eastern Health Board are the only board with outstanding applications for such grants. The total amount claimed is £47,363, assuming that applicants were to qualify. The board's current financial position does not allow for payments to be made, at this time. The number of general practitioners involved is approximately 21.
209.
asked the Minister for Health when he will supply a grant to a doctor (details supplied) in County Wicklow who spent considerable sums of money on improving the facilities for the community at his clinic because of his Department's assurances that he would get a grant of at least £2,600 towards the work but who has been told that there is no money, despite visits by architects sent by his Department and despite instructions to proceed with the work.
The current agreement with general practitioners participating in the general medical services scheme provides for the payment of grants towards the cost of new practice premises or for the improvement or extension of existing premises, having had regard to some specific considerations.
Such considerations include,
(a) the number of eligible persons on the practitioner's list;
(b) the extent and nature of the accommodation already available to him in his practice premises and
(c) the availability of alternative facilities for general practitioners under the control of the health board.
I am given to understand by the relevant health board that the doctor in question applied for a grant in August 1986. The premises was inspected by both the board's technical officer and the local director of community care and both were satisfied with the work carried out. These inspections were carried out after the work was completed. Subsequently, the board in determining whether a grant was appropriate, had regard to the number of eligible persons on the doctor's list in accordance with the terms of the agreement, as outlined earlier. Having regard to the size of the doctor's list of eligible persons and the overall position regarding the board's available finances in this area, the board considered it inappropriate to pay a grant in this case at this point in time.