Fairgreen Surgery received €181,580 last year, with GP citing high patient demand and extended hours.
A GP practice in Kildare received more than €180,000 in State payments last year for issuing medical certificates for social welfare claims, according to newly released figures.
Fairgreen Surgery in Naas was the highest-paid practice under the scheme in 2024, receiving €181,580 from the Department of Social Protection.
Lead GP Dr Jakub Sochacki said the figure reflects the size and activity of the practice rather than individual earnings. He said the clinic operates extended hours six days a week and has a large patient base, leading to a high volume of certifications.
He added that the funding supports the running of the practice, including more than 10 staff, as well as overheads such as rent, insurance and administration.
Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act, and first reported by the Irish Independent, show the top 100 GP earners received between €43,570 and €177,690 last year.
The second-highest payment went to Dr Andrew Jordan of the Aylesbury Clinic in Dublin, who received €98,630 before retiring last July.
Payments in such cases are often shared among multiple doctors within a practice.
In total, just over €38m was paid to GPs in 2024 under the medical certification scheme.
The payment system, revised in 2019, allows €50 for an initial certificate and €10 for follow-ups, contributing to a rise in overall costs in recent years.
The Department of Social Protection said GP certification remains a key part of administering illness benefit, with activity reviewed on a quarterly basis.
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