Keith Swanick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the contributors. I will be brief. It comes as no surprise to me that only 3% of the health budget is spent on general practice, which facilitates 25 million consultations per year with a satisfaction rating of greater than 95%. It also comes as no surprise to me but it saddens me that for the first time ever in the history of the State, GP training posts this year are unfilled. There are just 171 GP trainees embarking on a career in general practice. The training programme will take four years. I do not know how many of them will qualify or how many of them will stay in Ireland but what I do know is that 900 GPs will retire over the next five years. That will have a direct impact on the provision of mental health services in this country. General practitioners are excellent at diagnosing mental health problems in adults and young people. They are the first port of call. They are the foot soldiers in the community. That is why I believe the lack of GP trainees will have a direct impact on the provision of mental health services. The Minister and the HSE need to address the elephant in the room and to resource the sector adequately.