Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

From the Department's perspective, I will just give a few statistics. There are currently 23 GMS vacancies in the country as of 1 June. As there are 2,493 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS scheme, that is a relatively low percentage of vacancy. Less than 1% of the total number of GPs contracted to the GMS are vacant. The number of GMS patients associated with these vacancies is 14,495. A total of nine of these vacancies have been open for less than six months, six vacancies have been open for between six months and twelve months, and eight vacancies have been open for more than 12 months. A total of 18 of these vacancies, or 78%, are in urban areas and five of them, or 22%, are in rural areas. The rural practice support framework payment is associated with four of these. Where GP vacancies arise in the GMS then, the HSE must and does take all necessary steps to ensure continuity of service.

I am informed that all current vacancies are covered by a locum service and, therefore, a general practice service continues to be provided in all the affected areas. While I am not in any way downplaying the importance of this issue, it is useful to provide some statistics to give a sense of the context. There are 2,493 general practitioners contracted to the General Medical Services scheme and there are 23 vacancies.

While the Government is consistently and constantly trying to increase the number of GP training places in line with the commitment in the programme for Government, it is disappointing that not all the additional places were filled. This must be viewed in the context of the increase in GP training numbers in recent years. For example, the number of training places rose from 120 in 2009 to 186 in 2017, an increase of 55% in seven years. The number of places filled has increased by 43% in the same period. While it is right and proper that we do this for all the reasons outlined by the Chairman, including the average age of general practitioners, it is important to provide some facts.