Mr. Paul Reid:

I have a few comments about GPs. We share the concern about the availability of GPs and the pipeline. We see an increased number of GPs coming through training programmes and we are working with the Irish College of General Practitioners, which now has the training capacity needed. We will thankfully see increasing numbers coming through that pipeline in the next few years but it is still a real issue. We have provided significant funding to support GPs through the winter plans and Covid. GP access to diagnostics has significantly improved their capacity and capability and is good for people using the services.

Regarding the commitment to provide for six- and seven-year-olds, negotiations are happening through and with the IMO. I am confident we will reach a conclusion on that process.

Regarding waiting lists, resourcing and local targets, we are providing resources. Some is supported by the recruitment I just spoke about.

I agree that accountability is much stronger. We can have a national target and need to look at how it is broken down. I chair a weekly meeting. We look at the funding when we agree it. Each hospital group and hospital has made submissions for money from the access to care fund. We allocate it based on delivery commitments and we measure each hospital group against those. Things happen, as they did today, but we have a targeted focus for recurring and non-recurring funding.