Mr. Robert Watt:

I thank the Deputy and I agree with the point he has made, and that Mr. Mulvany has already mentioned, on the increased numbers of GPs in training. That will provide a flow of new GPs to replace their older colleagues who will be moving on to retirement. That is a very significant change and I believe we had 120 in training each year ten years ago and we are now at 260 and due to get up to 360, and we have a large number in training at present. That will try to address that issue. We have planned for this demographic change and will see the benefits of that over the next few years as newly-trained GPs take over those practices and start to get involved.

As for supports for GPs, the Minister announced the extension of the free GP card as part of the budget which was a very significant increase in eligibility.

As part of that, the Minister set out the additional supports that would be in place for GPs and a significant sum of money has been allocated for next year. We are now in the process of engaging with the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, to hear its views on how that money could be best spent. We will set out our plans in respect of that in the new year. That will be around more nursing and administrative staff and other non-GP supports to ensure that GPs focus on the core activities only they can do and their colleagues in the practice can do to support them in the range of activities their practice undertakes. That will be a big change and it is a significant sum of money.