Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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531. To ask the Minister for Health the measures that will be implemented to address the shortage in GPs throughout the country particularly in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10806/23]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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532. To ask the Minister for Health the measures taken to improve the recruitment and retention of GPs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10807/23]

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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600. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to support general practitioners to take up positions in rural general practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11130/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 531, 532 and 600 together.

GPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in a town or community.

Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Currently there are 2,532 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme.

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.

Under the 2019 GP Agreement additional annual expenditure provided for general practice has been increased now by €211.6m. This provides for significant increases in capitation fees for participating GMS GPs, and new fees and subsidies for additional services. Improvements to GP’s maternity and paternity leave arrangements and a support for GPs in disadvantaged urban areas, have also been provided for.

An enhanced supports package for rural GP practices was introduced previously to support rural GPs, these supports have been increased by 10% under the 2019 GP Agreement. In addition, practices in receipt of rural practice supports attract the maximum allowable rates for practice staff support subsidies and locum contributions for leave taking. Specific fees are also in place for dispensing doctors (who operate in rural areas), these have been increased by 28% under the Agreement.

The number of doctors entering GP training has increased approximately ten percent year on year from 2019, rising from 193 in 2019 to 258 in 2022, and a further large increase is planned for this year. Following the transfer of responsibility for GP training from the HSE to the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP), it is aimed to have 350 training places available for new entrants per year by 2026.

These measures will make general practice in Ireland a more attractive career choice and will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.

Furthermore, a strategic review of GP services is to commence shortly and will be completed this year. The review, with input from key stakeholders, will examine the broad range of issues affecting general practice in general and in rural areas specifically, and will set out the measures necessary to deliver a better general practice.