Vol. 575 No. 3
224 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the reduction in the onerous rota funding 2002 for rural doctors in the Western Health Board area; the reason this allowance has been reduced from £9,200 in 1991 to approximately half that figure in 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28094/03]
Provisions for the allocation of an amount of €634,869 – £500,000 – in respect of onerous rotas for general medical service scheme general practitioners were first detailed in a departmental circular letter in 1998, reference no. 4/1998. The distribution of these moneys and the level of the allowance to be paid to the general practitioners involved is a matter for each individual health board or authority to decide. Accordingly, the issues raised by the Deputy have been referred to the chief executive officer of the Western Health Board for investigation and direct reply.
It will be noted that with the advent and development of the out of hours general practitioner co-operatives throughout the country the number of onerous rotas has reduced. Since 2000, €4.869 million has been allocated to the Western Health Board for the promotion and development of out of hours co-operatives.
Question No. 225 answered with Question No. 222.
