€3.75M paid to five GP practices

THE Government paid almost €3.75M to five GP practices in Cavan and Monaghan in 2024 under the primary care reimbursement, or medical card, scheme.

Dr Gavin Maguire’s practice in Bailieborough was paid €888,439.56 placing the Cottage Surgery at number 38 in a list of 3,129 doctors’ surgeries nationwide that were paid under the scheme in 2024, the latest full year for which figures are available.

During the same period, Dr Michael Clarke, who is named as the GP principal in the Market Square Surgery in Castleblayney, earned €782,184.23 putting his practice at number 78 in the country. The data was provided by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service following a Freedom of Information request by the ’Celt.

The figures for 2025 are not yet available. The amounts quoted are the gross amounts paid to local practices including practice support payments and are income of the practice rather than the personal income of the named individual GP. The other three practices in the top five Cavan-Monaghan Local Health Office area are Dr Ellen O’Riordan of Cootehill Medical Centre, which took in €713,083.63; Dr Thomas Prior, the lead GP principal, Farnham Medical Practice, Connolly Street, Cavan, which, was paid €691,707.34; and Dr Rukshan Goonwardeena of the Ballyjamesduff Family Practice, which received €668,728.98 under the scheme in 2024.

Dr Rukshan Goonewardena (Locum) is also listed as receiving €212,941.10 into his practice in 2024.

The top earner in the Local Health Office area of Sligo / Leitrim / West Cavan came in at number 16 on the national list. With primary care reimbursement payments totalling €989,584.40 in 2024, Dr Sean Bourke’s practice in Ballinamore, took in more than €100,000 than the next highest in neighbouring Cavan.

The practice reimbursed the most money by the government two years ago, was in the Dublin North West region and it was paid just over €1.95M.

Family doctors in Ireland are contracted by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to provide free medical care to medical card and GP visit card holders.

The Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) which is managed by the HSE, pays doctors, pharmacists, dentists and opticians for the free or reduced-cost healthcare they provide.

Patient benefits include free GP consultations and prescription medication for cardholders; while doctors earn a stable income, often including practice support, staff subsidies, and locum contributions. A medical card is designed for people with low incomes, allowing them to access public health services, including GP visits, prescription medicines, and hospital care, for free or at a reduced cost. In order to qualify for a medical card patients have to be means tested and earn under an income threshold.

In 2024, the government reimbursed 3,129 GPs just under €945 million for treatments provided under the medical card scheme.

A full list of Cavan – Monaghan GP practices and the amounts paid to each of them by the Primary Care Reimbursement Scheme is printed below.