Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
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224. To ask the Minister for Health the process by which a GP can apply to establish a new private practice in a town or community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14240/25]

Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
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234. To ask the Minister for Health the process by which a community can make a request that a new private GP practice be established within their community where they are experiencing a gap in service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14264/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 224 and 234 together.

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. GPs are not required to apply to the Department of Health or the HSE to a establish a new practice.

As self-employed practitioners, most GPs hold contracts with the HSE for the provision of health services, such as under the GMS contract for the provision of GP services without charge to the medical card and GP visit card holders. GPs may undertake a GMS contract with the HSE, provided they meet the criteria.

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. As of the start of the February, there are 22 GMS vacancies across the country, less than 1 percent of the total number of GMS panels.

It is worth noting that some GP practices operate from HSE Primary Care Centres (PCCs). PCCs are modern, purpose-designed buildings that provide a single location for a primary care team to work from. Where there is provision to accommodate a GP practice within a PCC, the HSE engages with local GPs who are interested in locating to the premises.