Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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437. To ask the Minister for Health the incentives which are in place to encourage the establishment of new general practitioner practices. [68580/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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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.

General practitioners who hold a GMS contract are reimbursed for the services they provide to medical card and GP visit card holders on behalf of the HSE. GMS GPs are remunerated through capitation payments and fee-per-item payments for certain services, and also receive a range of practice supports.

Under the GMS scheme, GPs are paid a subsidy towards the cost of employing a practice nurse and/or a practice secretary. The rate payable depends on the GP's GMS panel size and the level of experience of the nurse or secretary. A practice manager subsidy is also available. The GP Agreement 2023 increased the existing subsidy rates for practice staff and introduced a new grant support for additional practice staff capacity as well as a practice staff maternity leave support

GPs working in rural areas who meet the qualifying criteria qualify for an annual rural support allowance. The 2019 GP Agreement increased the practice support package for rural GP practices by 10% and introduced a €2 million annual support for GP practices in disadvantaged urban areas. Practices in receipt of rural practice supports attract the maximum allowable rates for practice staff support subsidies and locum contributions for leave taking. Contributions are also made under the GMS scheme towards locum costs for various GP leave arrangements.

A financial support specific for the establishment of practices is not provided under the GMS scheme.

My Department and the HSE are undertaking a Strategic Review of General Practice. The review, with input from key stakeholders, is examining the broad range of issues affecting general practice and will set out the measures necessary to deliver a more sustainable general practice into the future. Under this review, consideration is to be given to the development of the support model necessary to underpin the provision of sustainable GP services.

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. There are 180 PCCs currently operational.