Mr. Bernard Gloster:

In straightforward terms, we will be challenged in both deprived urban areas and rural parts of the country for some time to come. It would be wrong of me to say differently. On the correction side - the policy side to try to correct that curve, as it were - the Department has had very successful negotiations with the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, around the various costs of care initiatives for the public, including GP visit cards, contraception and so on. That was successfully concluded again recently to great effect. That is on the access side and it includes terms and conditions for GPs who into the General Medical Services, GMS, contract.

On the supply side, there are approximately 285 trainees in the year of training. We aim to get to 350 by next July in the first year of training. After four years, there would therefore be 1,200 and 1,400 in training. Finally, and this is important, this year we took the step, with the support of the Irish College of General Practitioners, ICGP, and others, to recruit doctors who trained abroad, particularly in South Africa where doctors are very well trained, to come to Ireland and work with us. I think between 50 and 75 have arrived and there is a target of 100 for this year. We are deploying those doctors to the areas where we are most challenged. They can register as GPs and take up contracts after being under two years of supervision.