Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1156. To ask the Minister for Health if a new GP can be facilitated in the case of persons (details supplied) who have been unable to source local GP care and require care for repeat prescriptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12356/23]

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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1376. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide assistance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13177/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1156 and 1376 together.

GPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a contract with the HSE for the provision of health services, such as the GMS contract for the provision of GP services to medical card and GP visit card holders.

Where a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card 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 a GP visit card access GP services on a private basis, in which the Minister has no role, 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.

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 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, increased rural practice supports and a support for GPs in disadvantaged urban areas, have also been provided for.

The number of GPs entering training has increased steadily over the past number of years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 258 in 2022, with a further significant increase planned for this year. The ICGP aims to have 350 training places available for new entrants per year by 2026.

These measures 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 and will set out the measures necessary to deliver a more sustainable general practice into the future.