General Practitioner Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 November 2023

Wednesday, 8 November 2023

Questions (134)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

134. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health whether it is intended to apply increases in line with the public pay agreements to general practitioners in receipt of DMO salaries going forward with also an element of retrospection, as these salaries have not been increased since the benchmarking pay increases of in 2008; whether such increases would also apply to retired GPs who have DMO salaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49005/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The payment known as the District Medical Officer salary is an allowance paid to a small number of GPs to support them in the delivery of services in areas with reduced GMS populations. Although usually referred to as a 'salary', it is not in fact a salary and the DMOs concerned are not employees of the HSE.

My Department has received a request in relation to increasing the rate of payment to DMOs along the lines indicated by the Deputy. We are currently considering this request but I am not yet in a position to indicate whether an increase will be possible.