Mr. Damien McCallion:

One of the reasons the HSE is investing more in that is to try to protect GP time in light of the shortage of GPs. I refer to the drivers, triage and all of those aspects. I fully accept the Chairman's point in terms of the different models of operation, but the core principles are the same. The State has invested to try to protect GP time in order that we minimise the impact.

The Chairman's second question links back to Deputy Catherine Murphy's earlier question. We need to increase the number of GPs for the reasons the Chairman set out in terms of trying to ensure that there will be an adequate number of GPs to cover daytime and out-of-hours services. There is an increase - up to 350 GPs - planned across the next five years. We know we need to increase the number of GPs. That will be done through working with the Department and the Irish College of General Practitioners, ICGP. We will revert on the 2010 and 2016 recommendations, but I want to say that the Chairman listed out many things.