Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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689. To ask the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners who have retired or who are due to retire in the main towns throughout the country and specifically in north County Kildare; the extent to which steps are being taken to appoint replacements at an early date; when all vacancies will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6189/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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GPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the selection process to find a replacement GP. As of January, there are approximately 27 GMS vacancies in the State, approximately 1 percent of all GP GMS panels, and currently no GMS vacancies in County Kildare.

As the information requested relates to services matters, I have requested the HSE to provide the Deputy directly with the relevant information available in regard to GMS contract holders. Neither my Department or the HSE have information relating to GPs who are engaged exclusively in private practice.