Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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1481. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department has conducted any analysis with respect to the impact of the roll-out of universal access to GPs for under-sixes and over on the ability of persons to book an appointment with their local GP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1411/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Several analyses have been undertaken to estimate the future demands for GP capacity across a number of eligibility for GP care without charges expansion scenarios.

The HSE report on Medical Workforce Planning Future Demand for General Practitioners 2015-2025 provides estimates on the additional demand for GPs and the training numbers necessary to meet that demand under different eligibility scenarios including universal GP care. The report notes that to meet the demand for GPs that may be required by 2025, the State would require significant increases to the annual intake for GP postgraduate specialist training. The report also provides visitation estimates across for different age groups, including those under six years, following the provision of GP care without charges to all persons in said group.

Building on this work, the HSE publication The Demand for Medical Consultants and Specialists to 2028 and the Training Pipeline to Meet Demand provides estimates on the demand for GPs by 2028 based on rolling out GP care without charges to the under 18’s and over 70’s as well as universal free GP care.

The longitudinal study Growing Up in Ireland led by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth examined in their 2017 publication the GP visitation rates of children under 6, specifically at ages 9 months and 3 years of age, across eligibility status and the visitation rate change of those granted a medical card or GP visit card.

Measures taken by the Government to increase GP capacity and the number of GPs in the State are having an impact. There has been a significant increase in the number of GPs entering training in recent years, up from 120 in 2009 to 258 in 2022. Working with the ICGP, which has responsibility for GP training to the ICGP, 350 GP training places for new entrants are planned by 2026.

As announced in Budget 2023, from 1 April 2023, eligibility for GP care without charges will be extended to people who earn the median household income of €46,000 or less. A significant package of additional practice capacity supports will be available to GPs, and engagement with general practice is ongoing to determine how best to target the supports being made available.