Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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394. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the number of general practitioner training places from 157 to 180; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39169/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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On 1 July 2010, the GP trainee intake increased from 120 to 157 places per year. After discussions earlier this year between the HSE and the Irish College of General Practitioners, the annual number of training places increased to 161.

Currently, GP Trainees are paid an average annual salary of €76,000, whilst the average annual training cost per Trainee is €33,000. Based on these figures, increasing the annual trainee intake by a further 23 places would cost in the region of an additional €2.5 million per annum.