Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 May 1991

Vol. 408 No. 7

Written Answers. - GMS Contract.

Bernard Allen

Question:

159 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if he proposes to establish a body to deal with manpower issues in general practice along the lines of the proposed national consultative council of general practice proposed in the original 1988 GMS contract agreement, which was never set up, as at present there is no forum available to oversee the needs of the development of general practice from a manpower perspective.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

I assume that the Deputy is referring to the GMS contract for participating doctors, effective from 1 March 1989. Negotiations leading to the GMS contract did not specifically cover manpower planning in the general medical services scheme, nor does the new contract terms contain any provisions in that regard.

Discussions with the Irish Medical Organisation did take place, in parallel with, but not as part of, the GMS contact negotiations, in relation to modes of entry to the GMS scheme. These discussions embraced a number of aspects of entry to the scheme, including manpower requirements and planning. The recently completed contract review report recommended that such discussions should continue with a view to considering and revising, where appropriate, modes of entry to the scheme together with related manpower matters. This will be done in conjunction with the Irish Medical Organisation.