Vol. 517 No. 4
121 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the inadequacy of pension arrangements for salaried general practitioners; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that many of these are operating in isolated rural locations with small GMS lists; and the steps, if any, he will take to have this matter improved to facilitate continuity of a local general practitioner service in the areas. [8692/00]
General practitioners, under the GMS scheme, are independent contractors holding contracts for services rather than employees operating under contracts of employment. As part of the contractual arrangements operated since 1989 there is a general practitioner pension fund managed by the Irish Pensions Trust with a 10% of capitation contribution by the health board and 5% by the GP concerned. Under the fee per item arrangements which existed prior to 1989, the fees paid to GMS scheme doctors contained an acknowledged proportion intended to be invested by the GP for superannuation purposes. Accordingly, in that scenario, the responsibility for adequate pension investment, in any individual case, was solely a matter for the individual involved.
Prior to the introduction of the GMS scheme in 1972, there were pensionable salaried general practitioners called permanent district medical officers and when the scheme was introduced such persons, who chose to enter the new scheme as independent contractors enjoying the same rights as all other GMS doctors also brought with them certain guarantees, including in relation to pensions. In 1998, those pension arrangements were the subject of a specific agreement with the Irish Medical Organisation which saw the introduction of a notional salary for superannuation purposes which significantly enhanced the pensions position of those persons. These doctors also benefited from the pension arrangements in place from 1989 and additionally from any particular pension arrangements they might have made under the fee per item arrangements between 1972 and 1989.
In relation to rural general practitioners, it should be noted that dispensing fees paid to them are calculated for superannuation purposes and that in the case of salaried rural general practitioners rural practice allowance is also superannuable. Accordingly, I am satisfied that the general arrangements relating to pensions for doctors participating in the GMS scheme are adequate and proper.
