Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

492. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of employing HSE general practitioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45883/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Irish model of general practice is based on private practice, and all GPs providing GP services in Ireland currently are private practitioners. The HSE does not directly employ GPs for the provision of GP services.

In regard to challenges in accessing GPs in some parts of the country, I am open to looking at whether HSE employed GPs would be a possible solution to such access issues. As part of the Strategic Review of General Practice currently underway consideration will be given to the possible role of HSE employed GPs, as part of a wider examination of the GP capacity issue.

It should be noted that any proposed model involving salaried GP positions would require careful consideration to ensure the required level of service could be provided for medical card and GP visit card holders.

It is not currently possible to estimate the cost of the HSE employing GPs, this would depend on the number of GPs employed and agreement on salary levels as there is no established salary scale for publicly employed GPs in Ireland. In addition, substantial ancillary costs associated with the provision of GP care would need to be determined, including premises, equipment, consumables and staffing costs which may vary greatly depending on location and the services to be provided.

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

493. To ask the Minister for Health the number of GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS scheme for each of the years from 2011 to 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45884/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

494. To ask the Minister for Health the number of GP training places for each of the years from 2011 to 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45885/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) is the body responsible for education and training in general practice. The GP training course provided by the ICGP is recognised by the Medical Council with successful completion allowing entry onto the General Practitioner Specialist Register.

GP training is in the main four years in duration. Applicants with appropriate qualifications prior to commencement of GP training in Medicine, Paediatrics or Emergency Medicine may apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Applicants successful in obtaining RPL have their training shortened from four years to three years.

To increase the number of GPs practising in the State and improve access to GP services, significant increases have been made in recent years to the number of new entrant GP training places. Annual intake to the GP training scheme has been increased by approximately 80% over the last 5 years alone.

The number of new entrants to the GP training programme for each year from 2011 to 2024 is set out in the table below:

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

495. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the rural practice allowance for GPs by 10% and 20%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45886/24]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

522. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing supports to GPs in rural practices by 10%. [45915/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 495 and 522 together.

GPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a GMS contract with the HSE for the provision of GP services to medical card and GP visit card holders. In rural areas, due to lower and more sparse populations, there is a greater dependence on small and single-handed practices. Under the GMS scheme, the Rural Practice Support Framework provides an additional support to eligible GP practices in rural areas. These rural practice grants were increased by 10% under the 2019 GP Agreement. In addition, practices in receipt of rural practice grants attract the maximum allowable rates for practice staff support subsidies and locum contributions for leave taking.

As per the HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) annual report for 2023, funding provided through GMS rural practice grants to eligible practices amounted to approximately €4.8 million last year. Accordingly, based on this figure, increasing the GMS rural practice grants by 10% and 20% would cost approximately €0.48 million and €0.96 million respectively.

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

496. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing GP training places by 25 places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45887/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The annual intake of doctors into the GP training programme has been increased by 80% over the last 5 years. I2023, there were 286 new entrants to GP training, and 350 places for new entrants were made available this year. The ICGP, which is responsible for training GPs, stated that 968 applications were received for 2023, while 1,311 applications were received for this year.

The annual year one cost of a doctor on the GP training programme is approximately €110,000, accordingly the cost of increasing the number of GP training places by a further 25 places to 375 places would be approximately €2.75 million.

It is important to note that capacity to increase the number of GP trainees must be built through the health service, as for the first two years of training GP trainees rotate through a variety of hospital specialities. An increase in GP trainers may also be required, which would involve an additional costs to be determined. Expanding the number of places available for GP trainees may also carry other additional costs which cannot be quantified at this time.