Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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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 2,533 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme. Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the recruitment process to find a replacement GP. As of the 1^stNovember, there are two GMS GP vacancies in County Clare.

For GMS patients unable to locate a GP themselves, the Health Service Executive may assign an eligible person to be included on a medical practitioner's GMS list, in accordance with the GMS contract.

The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice, including the limited access to GP services in certain areas, and is working to ensure 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. In addition, the enhanced supports package for rural GP practices was increased by 10%.

The recent GP Agreement 2023 announced in July, which provides for the expansions of GP care without charges to those who earn up to the median household income and to children aged 6 & 7, includes additional capacity supports to enable the expansion and retention of staffing within general practice. It includes additional supports for GP Out of Hours services also.

These measures help make general practice in Ireland a more attractive career choice for doctors and will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country. Figures recently released by the ICGP show that 1,311 medical graduates have applied for GP training in 2024, a notable increase on last year and higher than any previous years.

The number of doctors entering GP training has been increased in recent years, with 286 new entrants for this year and 350 places for new entrants planned for next year. Annual intake to the GP training scheme has been increased by over 80% since 2015. Furthermore, the joint HSE and ICGP programme underway to bring up to 100 non-EU GPs to Ireland in 2023 will help to quickly improve access to GP services, particularly in areas with limited access. It is planned to bring to Ireland up to 250 more non-EU GPs by the end of 2024. 

Lastly, my Department and the HSE have commenced a Strategic Review of General Practice. The review, with input from key stakeholders, will examine the broad range of issues affecting general practice, including issues related to GP capacity, and will set out the measures necessary to deliver a more sustainable general practice into the future.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In cooperation with my Department, the HSE and the ICGP introduced this year a non-EU Rural GP Programme which is on target to bring 100 additional non-EU GPs into the State. These GPs work in GP practices providing healthcare to patients, and will, on successful completion of the 2-year programme, be eligible to practice independently and take up a GMS contract. The programme targets the placement of GPs to rural and urban deprived areas with limited GP access for patients. It is planned to bring to Ireland up to 250 more non-EU GPs by the end of 2024. 

All doctors wishing to practice in Ireland must be registered with the Medical Council. The Council has established processes for the assessment of both general and specialist medical qualifications from Ireland, EEA and third countries.

The non-EU GP programme compliments the increases made in recent years to the number of doctors entering GP training, which has risen to 286 this year with 350 places for new entrants planned for next year. Annual intake to the GP training scheme has been increased by over 80% since 2015.

The Government has taken measures to increase the attractiveness of general practice in Ireland as a career for doctors. Figures recently released by the ICGP show that 1,311 medical graduates have applied for GP training in 2024, a notable increase on last year and higher than any previous years. 

Under the 2019 GP Agreement additional annual expenditure provided for general practice has been increased now by €211.6m. The Agreement provides for an increase in capitation fees for participating GPs, additional services, improved family arrangements as well as a targeted €2 million fund to support to practices in deprived urban areas. The recent GP Agreement 2023 announced in July, includes additional capacity supports to enable the expansion and retention of staffing within general practice. It includes additional supports for GP Out of Hours services also.

Specific supports are in place to support GPs in rural areas. The practice support package for rural GP practices which was introduced previously was increased by 10% under the 2019 GP Agreement. 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 that Agreement.

In addition, as part of the GP Agreement 2023, a ring-fenced fund of €0.6m is being made available to support the delivery of initiatives to support rural GPs, including assistance sourcing locum cover for leave taking. The HSE will collaborate with the IMO to implement these supports.

Lastly, my Department and the HSE have commenced a Strategic Review of General Practice. The review, with input from key stakeholders, will examine the broad range of issues affecting general practice, including issues related to GP capacity, and will set out the measures necessary to deliver a more sustainable general practice into the future. The provision of GP services in certain rural and urban deprived areas that are underserved, and the possible mechanisms to attract more GPs to these locations, is a specific issue that will be examined under the review.