Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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1638. To ask the Minister for Health her views in relation to the worry and deep frustration of families and individuals in County Meath, and across rural Ireland generally, in relation to the shortage of GPs and the consequent difficulties being experienced by many patients accessing timely GP care; and her plans to remedy this situation. [11399/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Government is aware that more GPs are needed to improve access to GP services, and a number of measures have been taken in recent years to increase the number of GPs practicing across the country. I can understand the frustration and the worry that comes with having difficulty in accessing GP services, timely and available access is critical to good healthcare.

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. 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.

In addition, specific supports are in place to support GPs in rural areas. The practice support package for rural GP practices 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.

To increase the number of GPs graduating and entering practice, the number of GP training places available has been increased in recent years, from 202 in 2019 to 350 from last year. Furthermore, recruitment of GPs from abroad is ongoing under the International Medical Graduate (IMG) Rural GP Programme, with 114 IMG GPs in practice as of October last. Placement of GPs under this programme is targeted to underserved and in particular rural areas.

I am confident that these measures will see the GP workforce grow and improve service availability across the country.