Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the training of additional support staff, there will be a challenge in getting additional nurses because hospitals face that challenge. As such, GPs will also face that challenge. Is there a way of dealing with the provision of support staff who are adequately qualified to provide the support that GPs need? Do we need to develop a programme in this regard? Elderly care was referred to, for instance. We have approximately 740,000 people who are aged over 65 years and that figure will increase to 1 million in the next eight years. There will be increased challenges for GP practices and therefore they need more support.