Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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1661.To ask the Minister for Health the steps taken to increase the number of practicing GPs in an area (details supplied); if he acknowledge the concern of the residents of this area that there are not enough GPs to cover the numbers in this community, in view of the aging population and the distance from the nearest hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[34158/24]

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 2,538 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. While recruitment is ongoing, the HSE put a locum or other suitable arrangement in place to provide continuity of care for the area concerned. There is currently one GMS vacancy on Achill Island.

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 was increased by €211.6m. This provided for significant increases in capitation fees for participating GMS GPs, and new fees for additional services and increased practice supports. The GP Agreement 2023 further increased GP capitation fees, increased the existing subsidy rates for practice staff, and introduced a grant support for additional staff capacity as well a practice staff maternity leave support. These measures make general practice in Ireland a more attractive career choice for doctors.

The number of doctors entering GP training has been increased significantly in recent years, with 286 new entrants in 2023 and 350 places made available for new entrants for this year. Annual intake to the GP training scheme has been increased by over 80% from 2015 to 2023, and the number of new entrant places made available this year is a 22% increase on last year's intake.

Furthermore, GP recruitment is ongoing under the joint International Medical Graduate Rural GP Programme between the HSE and the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP). 121 non-EU GPs were enrolled under the training programme last year and it is planned to recruit up to 250 more GPs from outside Ireland this year. The placement of GPs under the programme is targeted to rural and underserviced areas.

Lastly, the Strategic Review of General Practice, which is currently underway, is examining the broad range of issues affecting general practice, including issues related to GP capacity and the consideration of mechanisms to attract GPs to rural and urban deprived areas. When completed, the review will set out recommendation actions to deliver a more sustainable general practice into the future.

As the issue of GMS vacancies is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly regarding the current GMS vacancy in Achill, as soon as possible.