Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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338. To ask the Minister for Health the number of GPs working in the State in each year from 2016 to 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43634/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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GPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold contracts with the HSE for the provision of medical services on its behalf. As of the start of this month, 3,148 GPs hold at least one HSE contract including 2,544 GPs who hold a GMS contract. The exact number of GPs practising in the State that do not hold any HSE contract is not known, however it is understood there are approximately a further 500 GPs that work entirely privately, many of these working as locums to provide support to other GPs.

The number of HSE contracted GPs and estimated total practising GPs, i.e. 500 added to the number of HSE contracted GPs, for the previous years to 2016 as of the end of each year and the latest figures for 2024 are shown below.