Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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167. To ask the Minister for Health the measures he plans to implement regarding the adequate renumeration of general practice and the retention of doctors with particular emphasis on the needs of rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38217/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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General Practitioners play an important role in the primary care system. The number of GPs on the specialist register continues to increase – up from 2,270 in 2010 to 3,669 as at July 2018. The number of GPs holding GMS contracts has also risen from 2,098 in 2008 to 2,507 as at 1 September 2018.

The Government is aware of workforce issues facing general practice, including the influence of demographic factors, and has implemented a number of measures to improve recruitment and retention in general practice.

GP training places have been increased from 120 in 2009 to 193 places filled in 2018, an increase of around 60% over a nine year period. The Government's objective is to continue to achieve annual increases in the number of training places available while ensuring that all of the places are filled.

Entry provisions to the GMS scheme have been changed to accommodate more flexible GMS contracts and the retirement age for GPs has been extended to 72. An enhanced support package for rural practices has been introduced with improved qualifying criteria and an increased financial allowance of €20,000 per annum.

The Government is also committed to engaging with GP representatives on necessary service improvements and reforms to the current GMS contract.

It is my intention to put in place a new multiannual approach to fees in return for service improvements and contractual reforms based upon health policy considerations and engagement with representative bodies.

Agreement on the delivery of service improvements and contractual reform has the potential to facilitate a substantial increase in the resourcing of general practice on a multiannual basis.