David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Saying it and doing it are two different things. Unfortunately, right across the healthcare system we have not seen the ratcheting up of training places that we need. In Sinn Féin's alternative budget I set out what we would have done this year, namely, 1,500 additional graduate and undergraduate positions across all the fields of study and increased GP training. Having a workforce planning strategy is very important and increasing training places is central to it. That must be done. When the Minister talks about increasing GP training, if he listens to GPs, which I am sure he does, many of them coming out of training places are opting to emigrate. Perhaps the reason is that independent practice is not for them, which is why we should offer the option of salaried GPs in the public system and provide the necessary out-of-hours GPs. As the Minister will appreciate and understand, that in turn will take pressure off acute hospitals and emergency departments. We have far too many people attending emergency departments who should be cared for elsewhere. Some of them simply cannot get access to out-of-hours GP services and end up in accident and emergency.

There are lots of things that we can do. What we need is a new contract in the first instance that is fit for purpose. The Minister must look at the staffing subsidies and increasing the training places. Once we see the infrastructure build up then we must, aggressively and robustly, roll out free GP care. That is what I want to see. I am very fearful that if we do not do that, we could end up with waiting lists for GPs and longer wait times, which nobody wants to see.

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