Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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314. To ask the Minister for Health if there are any financial supports or grants available from his Department for persons to set up a GP practice and health centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61448/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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General practitioners who hold a GMS contract are reimbursed for the services they provide to medical card and GP visit card holders on behalf of the HSE. GMS GPs are remunerated through capitation payments and fee-per-item payments for certain services, and GP practices also receive a range of financial supports.

Under the GMS scheme, GPs are paid a subsidy towards the cost of employing a practice nurse and/or a practice secretary. The rate payable depends on the GP's GMS panel size and the level of experience of the nurse or secretary. A practice manager subsidy is also available. GPs working in rural areas who meet the qualifying criteria will qualify for an annual rural support allowance. In addition, contributions are made towards locum costs for various GP leave arrangements.

As private practitioners, GPs are free to establish practice in the location of their choice.  The Department of Health does not offer financial supports specific to the establishment of practices.

Under the 2019 GP Agreement, the Government is increasing annual investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) between 2019 and 2023, 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. Furthermore, the rural support allowance has been increased by 10% for participating GPs, an additional financial support has been introduced for GPs working in disadvantaged urban areas, and improvements have been made to maternity and paternity leave arrangements.

My Department and the HSE are preparing to commence shortly a strategic review of GP services to examine how best to ensure the provision of GP services in Ireland for the future. The review will examine the broad range of issues affecting general practice including issues that might hinder doctors from entering general practice, and will set out the measures necessary to deliver a sustainable general practice.