Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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1684. To ask the Minister for Health the options that are open to medical card holders who are unable to find a general practitioner who is taking on new patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29958/22]

Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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1685. To ask the Minister for Health the options that are open to non-medical card holders who are unable to find a general practitioner who is taking on new patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29959/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1684 and 1685 together.

Where a GMS patient experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept them as a patient, the person concerned having unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area (or fewer if there are fewer GPs in the area) can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit which has the power to assign that person to a GP's GMS patient list.

People who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis and can make enquiries directly to any GP practice they wish to register with. As private contractors, it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients. Where a GP practice has a full list of patients and cannot take on new patients, patients should contact other GP practices in or around the area.

The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice and is working to ensure patients across the country continue to have access to GP services and that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future.

The 2019 Agreement on GP contractual reform and service development will see the Government increase annual investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) between 2019 and 2023. The Agreement provides for increased support for GPs working in rural practices and for those in disadvantaged urban areas, and for improvements to maternity and paternity leave arrangements. These changes and others make general practice in Ireland a more attractive career choice.

The number of GPs entering training has been increased steadily over the past number of years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 233 in 2021. Responsibility for training has transferred last year from the HSE to the Irish College of General Practitioners and an intake of 258 trainees is planned for this year, with further increases expected for future years.

These measures will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.