Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I did not mean to be critical of the Sláintecare plan and I hope it did not come across in that way. I just make the point that in that sense, if one were to be negative, it is somewhat contradictory because it is saying that this must be done in year 1, but later on it states that it can only be done when something is in place. I thought we needed to make it more programmatic and that is the work Laura Magahy has been doing.

I accept we have more to do on this. I hope the measures we have agreed with GPs will help to fix the capacity and manpower issue. We are significantly restoring fees; it is for the IMO and the NAGP to outline that. We are also going beyond that by increasing the rural allowance, putting urban deprivation in place and providing funding for, I believe, 247 whole-time equivalent practice nurses. I hope this will make general practice a more attractive career choice in the future.