Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Mar 2002

Vol. 551 No. 4

Written Answers. - Vaccination Programme.

Bernard Allen

Question:

132 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason bonus payments owed to general practitioners who have reached their exceeded vaccination targets have not been paid five years after the bonus scheme was introduced. [10668/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Contracting general practitioners are entitled to bonus payments for each calendar year where they achieve a 95% uptake in respect of the cohort of children on their panel who reach their second birthday during that year. This percentage uptake for bonus payments purposes is adjusted to reflect cases where parents have refused immunisation, where families have moved, or where immunisation is contraindicated. Bonus payments in respect of panels where GPs reached the appropriate threshold in 1999 are due by the end of March 2002. GPs enter into a contract with their health boards, and if payment has not been made to them they should, in the first instance, raise the issue of outstanding payment with the appropriate health board.

Officials of my Department recently met representatives of the Irish Medical Organisation concerning the issue of outstanding bonus payments. My Department has also been in contact with the health boards concerning the issue. While some health boards have indicated that they are experiencing difficulties in relation to bonus payments, they have indicated that they are currently addressing these difficulties and expect to have them resolved shortly. They also indicate that some of the bonus payments due have in fact been paid. Among the difficulties cited by the boards were systems problems relating to the calculation of payments and the validation of databases. My Department has written to the boards indicating that it is imperative that any outstanding bonus payments are processed and paid as a matter of urgency.