Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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439. To ask the Minister for Health given his comments on radio that an additional 1,000 general practitioners are required for our health services, the full-year cost of providing them. [41830/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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On 1st 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.

The HSE’s National Doctors’ Training and Planning Unit is working on developing detailed workforce plans for different medical specialties. Medical workforce planning for General Practice has been prioritised in this context. Its report on Future Demand for General Practitioners 2015-2025, which found that there is an under-supply of GPs, is now available on the HSE’s website. In this context, the Department and the HSE are currently exploring the scope for phasing in additional training places over the next five years.

Trainees are paid an average annual salary of €76,000 for the two years they spend training in a GP practice, whilst the average annual training cost per trainee is €33,000. Therefore, the full year cost per trainee per year is approximately €109,000.