James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 104: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of general practitioners who will retire year on year over the next five years; the plans in place to replace these GPs in view of the fact that there is a lead-in time in excess of a year to fill a post; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45772/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The number of General Practitioners who are in active practice is some 2,500, of which some 2,100 are contracted by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to provide services under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. General Practitioners (GPs) are self employed contractors and my Department does not therefore collect the statistics sought by the Deputy. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to examine this matter and to provide the information which it has available directly to the Deputy.

A joint Department of Health and Children / HSE working group on workforce planning was established in June 2006. It also includes representatives of the Departments of Finance and Education and Science, and the Higher Education Authority. Research is currently being undertaken by FÁS on behalf of the joint working group. This research will analyse the labour market for 12 healthcare grades and professions, including GPs, and will help determine future GP training needs. FÁS is expected to complete its work in February 2009 when it will report its findings to the joint working group.