Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I recognise the challenges and, more importantly, so does the Government. That is why we have taken a number of steps to try to address the issue of manpower and woman-power in terms of the number of general practitioners in the country. That is why we have significantly increased the number of training places. In 2009, there were 120 GP training places available. This year, it is expected that 194 training places will be filled. That is an increase of approximately 60% over a nine-year period. There were over 400 applications for the 2018 training programme, which is a significant increase of approximately 50% on the number applying to be GPs last year. That is an encouraging sign that more people wish to become GPs. More people are applying for the places and we are responding in kind by increasing the number available.

Keeping those GPs in this country is the challenge. That is why we need a new contract. I know from our exchanges publicly and our conversations also that the Deputy believes, as I do, that a new way of working as a GP, providing more supports and flexible working options is crucial in terms of a new generation of GPs. That is part of what we want to discuss as part of the contracts. We have already increased the rural support allowance from €16,216 to €20,000 per annum but we must remember that these are self-employed contractors. I have to look at it from the perspective of the GP. I have to look at it also from the perspective of the patient and the taxpayer.

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