Joe Walsh
Ceist:32 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Health if he will designate the Drimoleague/Drinagh area of County Cork a remote area under the general medical services scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17797/95]
Written Answers. - Remote Areas Designation.
Joe Walsh
Ceist:50 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Health the criteria used for designation of remote area status under the general medical services scheme; the plans, if any, he has for the extension of these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17798/95]
, Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 50 together.
The criteria normally used in determining an area as "remote" in the context of the general medical services (GMS) scheme are as follows: the location and size of the area involved; the population; the number of medical card holders in the area; the distance or distances from the nearest town or towns; the number of general practitioners practising in the area or adjoining areas and any other information relevant to the particular case.
The terms of the GMS contract provide that remote areas shall be specified from time to time by the Minister for Health in consultation with the health boards and the Irish Medical Organisation.
The practice is that applications for remote area status under the GMS scheme are made to me by the relevant health board following consultation with the doctor or doctors involved. I have no plans to extend the number of areas currently designated as "remote" under the GMS scheme. However, I am prepared to consider any such application made to me by a health board which would be considered on its own merits.
I understand that the Southern Health Board considered the question of whether the Drimoleague/Drinagh area should be declared a remote area under the scheme. In view of the proximity of the area to the towns of Skibbereen, Dunmanway and Bantry and given the arrangements which are in place locally for the provision of general practitioner services, the board did not consider the area to be a remote area within the terms of the scheme.