Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. We are opening primary care centres all over the country, including in his constituency.

We have increased the number of GPs being trained every year to more than 300. Two GPs are now qualifying every year for every one who retires. I appreciate that is against the backdrop of a rising population and increased demand. There are particular challenges in disadvantaged parts of our urban areas and also in rural areas. The particular challenge in rural areas is that times have changed and GPs want to work in group practices so they can have a much better quality of life. That is understandable but it requires that we reflect that in the models for the future.

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