Tax proposal to keep junior doctors in Ireland

Government officials have been asked to cut a €5m-per-year income tax deal with newly graduated doctors over college fee repayments in a bid to stem the tide of emigration from the system.

Details obtained by the Irish Examiner show three departments — Health, Finance and the Taoiseach — are examining the detailed proposal, which could be implemented as soon as next year’s budget.

Under the potential policy switch put forward by individual medics and Fine Gael senator Colm Burke, the State has been asked to write off interest rate repayments against income tax for recently qualified junior doctors who entered the profession through the Graduate Entry Programme.