Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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339. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to address the general practitioner shortage in the area of Carrickmacross, County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35975/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice, including the limited access to GP services in certain areas, and has implemented a number of measures in recent years to improve recruitment and retention in general practice.

Changes have been made to the entry provisions to the GMS scheme to accommodate more flexible/shared GMS GP contracts, and to the retirement provisions for GPs under the GMS scheme, allowing GPs to hold GMS contracts until their 72nd birthday.

The 2019 Agreement on GP contractual reforms will see the Government increase investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) over the next four years, providing for significant increases in capitation fees for GPs who participate in the reform programme and the introduction of new fees and subsidies for additional services such as the chronic disease programme. There will be increased support for GPs working in rural practices and for those in disadvantaged urban areas, and improvements have been made to maternity and paternity leave arrangements.

In addition, the number of GPs entering training has been increased steadily over the past ten years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 194 in 2020, with a further increase foreseen in 2021.

These measures will help make general practice a more attractive career option for doctors and will increase the number of doctors in general practice, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.

In relation to the availability of GP services in the Carrickmacross area specifically, as this relates to a services matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter, as soon as possible.