Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 76: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to increase the number of general practitioner training places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10472/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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There are 12 GP specialist training programmes currently in operation, which are all of four years duration, two of which are spent in hospital posts, under the supervision of hospital consultants, and two years in an approved general practice at registrar level, under the supervision of a general practice trainer.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has reported to my Department that the number of General Practitioner (GP) training places is being increased from 120 per annum to 157 per annum, with effect from 1st July 2010. This increase has been brought about following collaboration between the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) and the HSE.

The Executive has reported to my Department that the following are the enabling steps in this process: - Additional GP training places will be made available via a formal re-alignment of existing Non-Consultant Hospital Doctor's training posts to the ICGP training programme. - An additional GP training programme is being implemented in Dublin's North Inner City, an area identified by both the ICGP and the HSE as requiring additional GPs. - Forty-five additional GP trainers will be appointed to expand the number of general practice placements on training programmes, with a particular emphasis on areas of deprivation and GP shortage. - Training programmes will be restructured on a regional basis in line with the new HSE regional structures. - The additional training places will be allocated as appropriate to meet the projected needs of the regions as informed by work force planning exercises.