Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice and in particular the need to increase the number of GPs practising across the country to ensure patients continue to have access to GP services.

A number of measures have been taken to make general practice in Ireland a more attractive career choice for doctors, and the positive impact of these measures is being seen in the increased number of doctors both applying for and undertaking GP training.

The 2019 Agreement provides for an additional €211.6 million in expenditure for general practice. 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 been provided for, and the supports for rural GP practices have also been increased.

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.

In addition, the number of applications from doctors to undertake GP training has also increased year on year from 2019, with 446 applications received in 2019 rising to a record 968 applications received this year.

Furthermore, I recently published the Terms of Reference for a Strategic review of General Practice which 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. GP training and the need to ensure an adequate supply of general practitioners to meet the changing needs of the population is one of the key issues to be examined under the review.