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.

Where a GP GMS vacancy is set to arise in a practice, the HSE is notified in advance and becomes actively involved in the recruitment process to find a replacement GP. As of the 1st of November, there are 23 GMS vacancies across the country, just under 1 percent of the total number of GMS panels.

I have asked the HSE to provide the Deputy with an update on GMS GP vacancy in Swanlinbar as soon as possible.

As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes.

As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.