Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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149. To ask the Minister for Health for a report on plans to increase the number of GPs through a combination of international recruitment and increased training places. [52367/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed, as per the Programme for Government, to increase the number of GPs practising across the country and thereby improve access to GP services. Several measures have been taken in recent years to make working as a GP in Ireland more attractive and to increase GP capacity.

Over €340 million in additional annual investment in general practice has been provided under the 2019 and 2023 GP GMS Agreements. The 2019 Agreement provided for increased GP capitation fees, increased supports for practices and new fees for additional services such as the Chronic Disease Management (CDM) programme.

The 2023 Agreement 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. It also provided for the expansion of GP visit card eligibility in 2023 to all children under 8 years of age and all those who earn up to the median household income.

The annual intake of doctors into the GP training programme 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, GPs from abroad continue to be recruited under the joint HSE and ICGP International Medical Graduate (IMG) Rural GP Programme which commenced in 2023. As of the end of Q2 2025, 122 IMG GPs are placed in GP practices, and a further 23 have competed the programme. Placement of IMG GPs is targeted at rural and underserved areas.

Lastly, a Strategic Review of General Practice is underway. The review, with input from key stakeholders, is examining the broad range of issues affecting general practice including issues related to GP capacity. 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.