Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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787. To ask the Minister for Health if he has studied the research compiled by the National Association of General Practitioners, which reveals that the patient waiting time is now, on average, 34 hours; his plans to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38036/15]

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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823. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to deal with the general practice care (details supplied) which is at maximum capacity, as the current waiting time for a patient seeking a routine appointment with a general practitioner has soared from an average of just under ten hours in 2010 to over 34 hours and 25 minutes, and a patient seeking an urgent appointment with a general practitioner has gone from just over two hours and eight minutes to five hours and 12 minutes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38155/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 787 and 823 together.

I am aware that the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP) published a press statement on 27 October with results from a survey of GPs concerning waiting times. It is difficult to comment on this survey in the absence of further information on the survey methodology and the basis on which comparisons were made as between wait-times in 2010 and in 2015.

The Government is committed to the continued development of primary care and to modernising the scope and content of GP contracts. In this context, the HSE, the Department of Health and the Irish Medical Organisation are currently engaged in a comprehensive review of the General Medical Services (GMS) and other publicly funded health sector contracts involving GPs. This review is taking place within the context of the Framework Agreement which was signed by the above named parties in June 2014. Among the topics comprehended by the review process is the issue of supports for General Practice in remote rural areas and in urban/deprived areas.

There are approximately 20 GMS vacancies throughout the country. This represents less than 0.1 % of all GMS contracts held nationally. Of those vacancies, 10 are in rural areas (i.e. centres with a population less than 1,500). Without exception, locum arrangements are in place for all vacancies to ensure continuity of services to the relevant communities.

Over 2,400 GPs currently hold a contract with the HSE under the GMS Scheme compared to some 2,100 GPs in 2009; this is due to an increase in training places in recent years and the elimination of restrictions on access to GMS lists on foot of the Health (General Practitioner Services) Act 2012. The HSE is also exploring with the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) the potential to further increase GP training places over the coming years.