Aisling Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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84. To ask the Minister for Health the plans in place to provide additional supports for GP practices in rural areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34810/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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GPs are self-employed practitioners, most of whom hold a GMS contract with the HSE to provide medical services to medical card and GP visit card holders on their behalf. GPs who hold a GMS contract are reimbursed for the services they provide through capitation payments and fee-per-item payments for certain services. Practices also receive a range of financial supports.

Under the GMS scheme, the financial supports available to eligible GPs/GP practices include practice staff supports, locum contributions for leave taking, rural practice supports, and a support for practices in urban areas of deprivation. A contribution to GMS GPs medical indemnity insurance is also paid.

Specific supports are in place to support GPs in rural areas. GMS GPs working in rural areas who meet the qualifying criteria receive an annual rural practice support allowance under the Rural Practice Support Framework. The 2019 GP Agreement increased the practice support package for rural GP practices by 10%. Practices in receipt of rural practice supports attract the maximum allowable rates for practice staff support subsidies and locum contributions for leave taking.

Furthermore, a new locum support initiative commenced in May, providing GPs in receipt of rural practice supports with access to a streamlined locum sourcing service. While the GPs themselves will cover the cost of the locum, the HSE will bear the cost of securing the locum. The initiative specifically targets the 239 GPs currently receiving rural practice supports, with an initial focus on the over 130 single-handed GPs working in isolated areas, who often face the greatest challenges in finding cover.

In regard to further potential measures to support general practice in rural areas, this issue is being considered under the Strategic Review of General Practice. The review, currently underway and due to be completed this year, is examining the broad range of issues affecting general practice including issues related to GP capacity and will consider possible mechanisms to attract GPs to rural and underserved areas. Following its completion, a final report will be presented to me outlining the findings of the review and setting out recommended actions for a more sustainable general practice.