Catherine Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)
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104. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the number of GP posts currently vacant or unfilled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52352/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. As of September 1st, there are 2,568 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme.

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 puts a locum or other suitable arrangement in place to provide continuity of care for the area concerned.

As of June, there are 22 GMS vacancies nationwide (less than 1% of GMS panels). Of these 22 GMS vacancies, 15 are in rural areas and 7 in urban areas. It is acknowledged that GMS GP vacancies can be hard to fill in certain areas including in some rural areas.

The Government has undertaken several measures to increase GP capacity across the country and to improved access to services.

Investment in general practice has been significantly increased in recent years under the 2019 and 2023 GMS GP Agreements. The Agreements provide, amongst other things, for increased fees for GPs and supports for GP practices, including a 10% increase to rural practice supports, that makes general practice in Ireland as a career more attractive.

The annual intake to the GP training scheme has been increased by approximately 80% from 2019 to 2024, with 350 new entrant training places made available in 2024 and again in 2025. As a result, the number of GP graduates has increased in recent years and will continue to increase in the coming years.

In addition, recruitment of GPs from abroad is ongoing under the International Medical Graduate (IMG) Rural GP Programme. As of the end of Q2 2025, 122 IMG GPs are placed in GP practices, and a further 23 have competed the programme. IMG GP placements are targeted at rural and underserved areas.

Regarding 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 more GPs to rural and underserved areas.