John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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153. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to continue the GP training scheme currently operating successfully at Tralee Institute of Technology and co-ordinated by a local GP group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15627/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to the continued development of GP capacity to ensure that patients across the country continue to have access to GP services. The Programme for Partnership Government commits to increasing the number of GP training places to 259 places annually. In July 2016, the GP training intake increased from 157 to 172 places and the HSE's 2017 National Service Plan envisages a further increase, to 187 places this year. I am anxious to achieve further increases in future years in order to ensure that the future manpower needs of general practice can be met.

I understand that as of July 2016, there are 8 first year GP trainees attending the South West GP Training Programme which is based in Tralee. As GP training is currently the responsibility of the HSE, I have arranged for the question on the future of this training scheme to be transferred for direct reply to the Deputy.