Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the Chairman's view and that of other GPs in this respect. It is a point legitimately raised by GP organisations. I do not want to negotiate publicly on discussions that are taking place as part of the broader conversation. I want GPs and the people to hear this broader message. I am talking about expanding services and making general practice more accessible to people. People may have lain awake last night wondering if they had the €60 to bring a child to a doctor today. I see such people in my constituency office and other members probably know them too. They do not qualify for a medical card or a GP visit card and they worry about making ends meet. I will not do something that gives with one hand but takes something away with the other. If GP care is made free, there could be a very long waiting list to see the GP. We are working on a multi-annual basis to put in place a programme of reforms and investment in general practice that will enable the Government to pursue some of its democratic mandate in terms of extending eligibility to free GP care but which will enable GPs to deliver that in a manner they believe is sustainable. When I became Minister, I could have continued down the road of saying I just wanted to talk about free GP care for children. We have not done that and the Chairman's involvement with the programme for Government broadened that discussion on the GP contract. We will continue with that.

On the issue of GP training places, it is disappointing all the training places were not taken up this year. There is no getting away from that. There are approximately 16 vacant places. That needs to be seen in context. In 2009, we trained 120 GPs per year and this year we will train 170. We are continuing to expand and we will continue to expand the number of GP places. The point made by Deputy Durkan is crucial. If we as a country or society look to speak about the health service only in a negative fashion, it will not do much to encourage others to get involved. This is a point about the chicken and egg. To improve services, we need more speech and language therapists, nurses and doctors to take up work in the Irish health service. If we had had this conversation five years ago, it would have been somewhat academic as we would not have been recruiting. We are now recruiting and these people need to know they are working in a health service that values and appreciates them. They need to know there is a clear policy direction that will not keep changing. Sláintecare is the basis for that. Equally, I need those people to work in the health service and provide balance.