Cathy Bennett
Ceist:82. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Health the basis of excluding women over the age of 35 from accessing the free contraception scheme. [34921/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraHealth Services
Departmental Schemes
Ceisteanna (83)
Erin McGreehan
Ceist:83. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health her plans for reform of the long-term illness schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34623/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975, prescribing 16 conditions to be covered by the Scheme. These are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. While there are currently no plans to extend the list of conditions, it is important to remember that the LTI Scheme exists within a wider eligibility framework.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE.
In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness. The HSE afford applicants the opportunity to furnish supporting documentation to determine whether undue hardship exists and to fully take account of all relevant circumstances that may benefit them in assessment. In circumstances where an applicant is still over the income limit for a medical card, they are then assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.
The issue of granting medical card eligibility based on having a particular disability or illness was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The Group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. In following the Expert Group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.
Under the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS), no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
There has been a significant focus on improving access to and the affordability of healthcare services over the last few years. This includes reductions in the DPS threshold, expansion of access to free GP care, and the abolition of all public in-patient hospital charges for children and adults. These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare.
Individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
General Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (84)
Aisling Dempsey
Ceist:84. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked 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]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Healthcare Infrastructure Provision
Ceisteanna (85)
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:85. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on new capital investments and major new equipment purposes and new healthcare initiatives that will be rolled out in County Clare across 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34750/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Capital investment plays a critical role in enabling and enhancing health service provision and the reforms as set out in Sláintecare.
The HSE Capital Plan is an annual document that sets out the planned health infrastructure investment within a given year. The HSE Capital Plan 2025 provides details of capital investment in public healthcare facilities in County Clare for 2025. The Plan was published on 9th April 2025 and is available on the HSE website.
Emergency Departments
Ceisteanna (86)
Tom Brabazon
Ceist:86. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the timeline for the delivery new emergency department at Beaumont Hospital. [34916/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The process for the Beaumont ED proposal is being managed through the HSE capital development process rather than requiring direct submission to the Department of Health or Government for consent.
This is in line with the provisions of the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery, and Reform’s updated Infrastructure Guidelines. As such, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Healthcare Infrastructure Provision
Ceisteanna (87)
Brian Stanley
Ceist:87. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made to provide a new health centre for Mountrath, County Laois; if the HSE has now finalised the plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34865/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Reply not received from Department.
Vaccination Programme
Ceisteanna (88)
Martin Daly
Ceist:88. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Health if her Department will reconsider its stance on the shingles vaccine given recent studies that indicate a 20% reduction in dementia diagnoses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34625/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Reply not received from Department.
Healthcare Policy
Ceisteanna (89)
Sinéad Gibney
Ceist:89. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Health if she is aware that vapes are being advertised and displayed alongside children’s toys in shops; if so, the steps he is taking to ensure the practice is curtailed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33165/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My current legislative priority, approved by Government on 10 September, is the further regulation of nicotine inhaling products. These proposals are now being drafted with the Office of the Attorney General.
The General Scheme for a Nicotine Inhaling Products Bill contains a range of proposals to reduce youth use of nicotine inhaling products including restrictions on the display and advertising of these products at the point-of-sale in mixed retail outlets. When drafting is finalised the proposed measure will require notification and assessment at EU level under the Technical Standards Directive (Directive 2015/1535).
Medical Records
Ceisteanna (90)
Grace Boland
Ceist:90. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Health for an update on progress towards the digitalisation of the health service overall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34601/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Digital for Care: A Digital Health Framework for Ireland 2024-2030 reflects the changing landscape of health and social care in Ireland and sets out a roadmap to digitally transform health services and improve access for patients. This framework, combined with the corresponding HSE implementation roadmap, sets out a very clear path for the full digitisation of healthcare records and information systems in Ireland, as stated in the Programme for Government.Implementation of Ireland’s Digital for Care strategy is progressing at pace following its publication in May 2024. It sets out vision to enable better health outcomes through seamless, safe, secure, and connected digital health services that support both patients and providers. This vision is grounded in the principles of Sláintecare. Government has also reflected the need to support increased capital investment levels especially in health digitalisation through the review of the National Development Plan that is ongoing.
Ireland needs one digital health record for every citizen that can be accessed by health professionals across the service. The path to a one digital health record that covers the full health journey of every person living in Ireland consists of three key initiatives under Digital for Care (and the Programme for Government) proceeding concurrently and in parallel to achieve this for patients and the healthcare workforce:
The HSE Health App was successfully launched in February 2025, giving patients real choice and empowering their control over their health journey with further releases planned this year. The app, that has already won a number of technology awards, represents an important step towards making personal health information available, putting each patient at the centre of their healthcare journey. It empowers people by providing a single app to manage their digital health identity, personal health information, health and social care coordination, and access to services. It continues to evolve with more services, data and features planned in regular future releases.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) completed the procurement for the National Shared Care Record (NSCR) earlier this year. The NSCR programme has now been mobilized, with the contract for building the NSCR technology platform awarded to EY, Better and Kainos. The NSCR brings together healthcare information from various sources such as hospitals, GP practices, and Community care into a single place, making them available at the point of care and self-care in read only format. By having access to key healthcare information in one place means healthcare professionals will be able to make more informed, safer decisions and to focus more time on direct patient care while patients will be better informed and empowered to manage their own healthcare.
A phased rollout of the national shared care record is due to commence in Q4 2025 in the South-East region with University Hospital Waterford. The system will then extend to other regions from 2026 with additional information being added over time.Together with the HSE Health App, investing in a NSCR means unlocking fragmented data into a powerful tool for safer, coordinated patient-centred care while laying the foundation for a modern, connected and more efficient health service as we plan for a National Electronic Health Record.
The Enterprise Electronic Health Record (EHR) is intended to support integrated care across all settings. A preliminary business case for the National EHR has been developed by the HSE, setting out the case for the most ambitious transformation programme in the history of the health service. It is currently subject to the External Assurance Process (EAP) as required under the Infrastructure Guidelines. The EAP report will then be issued to the Major Projects Advisory Group (MPAG) for advice to DPENDR and Government. A national enterprise EHR will allow healthcare staff to access a patient’s full medical history to support timely and appropriate care, with the ability to update information in real time. EHRs not only provide a complete digital health record of a patient’s health journey, recorded by healthcare professionals across all health and social care settings, they also incorporate workflow capabilities to automate the patient pathway and facilitate the implementation of standardised models of care. This means the EHR can map out the next steps in a patient’s treatment plan in the various care setting and support automatic referrals, ordering of diagnostics, lab tests, etc. To realise the benefits of an investment in EHRs, they must be underpinned by a clear roadmap, agreed up-front interoperability and data standards, appropriate governance and a robust business case. Deploying an EHR is not just about the technology. These are significant change programmes to transform and move from a paper based to a digitised care model.A PIN (Prior Information Notice) was published in June 2025 informing EHR suppliers about the health service's interest in a national enterprise-level EHR systems. This process is open to all potential vendors willing to engage through this process. The consultation seeks supplier input to inform the upcoming procurement, with a contract award expected by the end of 2026 and phased implementation through to 2032.
In another important step on our way to digitised patient records, in May the HSE published the tender for the delivery of a National Electronic Prescribing (NEP) service. The new fully integrated e-prescription service will enable the secure and efficient transmission and storage of electronic prescriptions and dispensations for patients. This provides a critical piece of information for digital health records and the data from this service (prescription and dispensing data) will be available through the HSE Health App and the NSCR in the future.
Departmental Schemes
Ceisteanna (91)
Noel McCarthy
Ceist:91. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Health the number of women who have availed of the new HRT scheme to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34436/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Nursing Homes
Ceisteanna (92)
David Cullinane
Ceist:92. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the steps she has taken to increase investment in public nursing homes and improve regulation of the nursing home sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34747/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
This Government is committed to continued investment in healthcare infrastructure which supports the highest quality care for our older population. For those who avail of long-term residential care, it is critical that public investment in this infrastructure is maintained at a level that enables the appropriate standards to be met, and that public residential care capacity is increased in the coming years, in line with projected demand. As part of the overall National Development Plan (NDP) funding, the Health Sector capital allocation is €5.657bn for the period 2021-2025. Health Capital Funding of €1.459bn in 2025 was announced as part of Budget 2025.
Investment includes the ongoing Community Nursing Unit programme, a major capital infrastructure programme which was launched to ensure that up to 90 of our public Community Nursing Units and Community Hospitals would be refurbished or replaced to ensure the best quality environments for our older people, and to meet HIQA standards. The focus of this programme is primarily on ensuring that current bed stock is maintained, rather than providing additional capacity. As of Q4 2024, 51 projects have reached construction completion. Construction is underway on several more facilities, while the remainder are at various stages of review, appraisal, design and tender. The 2025 Capital Plan provided €182.85m for the Community Nursing Unit Programme in 2025.
This Government’s commitment to delivering additional residential care capacity is demonstrated by the allocation of €13.7m in Budget 2024 to staff and operationalise 985 community beds in 2024 as a result of capital projects coming to fruition. A further €4 million was allocated in Budget 2025 to staff and open an additional 615 community beds this year.
The Programme for Government commits to building more public nursing home beds and to provide dementia specific provision in all Community Nursing Units. In this context, the Department of Health, alongside the HSE, is currently developing a new Long-Term Residential Care Additional Capacity Plan which will be published in 2025. This plan will be informed by an update of the 2018 Health Service Capacity Review, currently being undertaken by The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), which will identify future capacity needs in the sector. The ESRI report on Older People’s Care will be published in June 2025.
A series of changes have been made to both primary and secondary legislation over the last three years to strengthen the regulatory framework for nursing homes. This includes:
• The Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Act, 2024 was enacted in July 2024 and amends the 2007 Health Act to give the Chief Inspector of Social Services new powers in relation to enforcement and data collection. This includes a new power to issue compliance notices.
• The Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2013 were amended in December 2022 to enhance and streamline complaints processes and to provide residents with a right to access advocacy services.
• These Regulations were further amended in March 2025 to include a range of new requirements aimed at strengthening the current provisions. These changes encompass areas such as visiting, governance, IPC and residents’ rights.
Health Services Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (93)
Sean Fleming
Ceist:93. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Health the action that will be taken to reduce waiting times for primary care waiting lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34616/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Improving timely access to healthcare for all by reducing and reforming waiting lists, including primary care waiting lists, is a key focus of the Path to Universal Healthcare: Slaintecare and Programme for Government 2025+ and I fully acknowledge that there is an urgent need to reduce waiting times and waiting lists for primary care services and to improve consistency of patient experience regardless of location. In line with the Programme for Government commitments to build capacity in primary care therapy services, a programmatic approach to address primary care waiting lists has been developed jointly by the Department of Health, and the HSE.
This programmatic approach involves three main workstreams: Workstream 1 aims to deliver improved analysis of primary care therapy activity and productivity to maximise capacity within existing resources.
Acknowledging that there is a need for shorter-term measures to address the current scale of waiting lists, Workstream 2 focuses on the development of measures, at a national level, to address patients waiting more than a year to access primary care therapy services. At present, proposals are being examined to address the national waiting lists for physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech & language therapy.
The focus of Workstream 3 is developing a Primary Care Therapy Waiting List Management Protocol to ensure that a consistent and transparent approach to referral, waiting list management and discharge of patients is applied across the primary care therapies in all Community Healthcare Networks (CHNs) thus improving overall patient experience. Workstream 3 is being supported through the joint Health Research Board/Department of Health ‘Evidence for Policy’ programme.
In 2024, a research team was appointed to develop a comprehensive, evidence-based protocol to ensure a consistent and transparent approach to referral, waiting list management and discharge of patients is applied across primary care therapies in all HSE Health Regions thus improving overall patient experience.
It is expected that this programmatic approach will, for the first time, put in place considerable standardised infrastructure to support systematic responses to primary care waiting lists and facilitate a greater understanding of the scale of demand, the drivers of demand and will, very importantly, allow for more timely access, improved planning, interventions, investment considerations, enhanced productivity, and the most efficient use of capacity.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (94)
Eamon Scanlon
Ceist:94. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to appoint a locum consultant dermatologist at Sligo University Hospital to cover a leave of absence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33750/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (95)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:95. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the progress her Department has made in honouring the Programme for Government commitment that an early access programme for medicines would be established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34979/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I recognise the importance of timely access for patients to new medicines.
Supported by 128 million euros of funding, in the last four years, the State has delivered access to 194 new medicines. Seventy-four (74) of these were for cancer and forty-nine (49) of these were for rare diseases.
Budget 2025 allocated 30 million euro for new medicines to come from efficiencies to be identified by the HSE.
The Government has introduced a suite of new measures to enhance capacity in the HSE’s pricing and reimbursement system including thirty-four (34) additional staff and a medicines application tracker to increase transparency of the process. Access to medicines requires industry and the State to work together, through timely assessment, and reasonable pricing with fully completed HTAs (Health Technology Assessments). This partnership has directly benefited patients for example those with cystic fibrosis and other rare diseases.
In this spirit of co-operation, I continue to encourage pharmaceutical companies to submit timely applications for their products so as to increase access for patients with unmet needs.
All medicines are assessed from a clinical, economic and ethical standpoint, with no hierarchy of disease. Upon approval by the European Medicines Agency, applications for reimbursement are assessed by the HSE in the order in which they are received from applicant companies.
As outlined in the Programme for Government, consideration will be given to various measures to address access to medicines. As part of this my Department is looking at reimbursement systems across the European Union, including Belgium. We are working closely with our Beneluxa partners on access to medicines where we have had previous success.
Primary Care Centres
Ceisteanna (96)
Joe Neville
Ceist:96. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Health if her Department plans to introduce additional primary care centres in north Kildare given that it is outlined in the Programme for Government to 'open more primary care centres and expedite the delivery of the existing pipeline to construction'; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34968/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Procedures
Ceisteanna (97)
Catherine Connolly
Ceist:97. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of children who have potentially been left infertile or at risk of cancer due to not receiving surgery for undescended testicles in a timely manner; the number of guardians and parents of potentially impacted children contacted to be made aware of these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34918/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE), the HSE has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
Organ Donation
Ceisteanna (98)
Joe Cooney
Ceist:98. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Health to report on the changes to the organ donation framework; the number of those opting out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34323/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Part 2 of the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Act 2024, which commenced on 17 June 2025, provides for the first time a national legislative framework for organ donation and transplant services in Ireland.
Under the legislation, all adults in Ireland are considered to have agreed to be an organ donor when they die unless they have recorded a decision not to donate on the Relevant Organ Donation Opt-Out Register or are in one of the excluded groups. It is important to reassure people that family members will always be consulted before any action is taken. This is commonly referred to as a soft opt-out organ donation system.
Families will continue to be consulted as part of a safe and respectful organ donation process, while the wishes of the deceased should be central to any decision.
Most people in Ireland are in favour of organ donation, and the new system changes the default assumption to one that matches the prevailing public attitude regarding organ donation. Meanwhile, the Register is intended to ensure that a person’s right to autonomy, self-determination and bodily integrity is respected.
The wishes of those on the Register will be respected in full, and their family will not be approached on the issue of organ donation. This objection applies to the relevant organs under the Act, namely, the liver, lung, pancreas, heart or kidney.
I have been informed by the Health Service Executive that as of Friday 20 June 2025, 29,394 persons have registered their objection to becoming an organ donor since the Register was made available to the public.
The Act introduces the concept of the designated family member i.e. the person who will be consulted regarding consent or confirmation of no objection to donation. The Designated Family Member Guidelines have been published which outline the role of the designated family member in the context of consent under Part 2 of the Act and the conditions which must be met.
Part 2 also expands pathways for living organ donations to include non-directed altruistic donation allowing living donors to donate to the transplantation system rather than to a specific person.
Finally, the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) (Living Donor Reimbursement Scheme) Regulations 2025 have been introduced to place the Living Donor Reimbursement Scheme on a statutory footing. To date, the policy has been operated on a non-statutory basis. The intention is to minimise financial disincentives for potential living organ donors, with a view to ensuring the pool of living donors continued to expand. The policy is based on the premise that although reimbursement may be granted, such reimbursement cannot confer any financial reward on a potential donor.
General Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (99)
Aisling Dempsey
Ceist:99. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Health how she intends to provide targeted supports for newly qualified GPs and to GP practices that take on newly qualified GPs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34811/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Regarding practice staff supports, 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 concerned. A practice manager subsidy is also available. The rate of these subsidies was increased under the 2023 GP Agreement. The 2023 agreement added General Practice Assistant to the staff subsidies, and introduced a new support grant for additional staff capacity as well as a staff support for the taking of maternity leave.
Eligible GMS GPs are provided with locum contributions for various types of leave taking, such as annual leave, sick leave, and study leave. The contribution rates may vary by type and duration, per day or per week, with the locum contribution rates for maternity and paternity leave doubled under the 2019 GP Agreement.
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.
The 2019 GP Agreement also introduced a €2 million per annum support for GP practices in disadvantaged urban areas. The funding may be used for additional health personnel costs or for the provision of additional services.
Other than the practice supports provided under the GMS scheme, financial supports specific to newly qualified GPs are not provided. As part of the underway Strategic Review of General Practice, consideration is to be given to the development of the support model necessary to underpin the provision of GP services in the context of the Sláintecare vision of universal GP access. 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.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (100)
John Connolly
Ceist:100. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Health the plans within her Department to increase the provision of acute inpatient beds for mental health patients as per the recommendation of the report of the Specialist Group-Acute Bed Capacity, which recommended that efforts should be made to increase the number of mental health beds nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34619/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
General Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (101)
Marie Sherlock
Ceist:101. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the specific actions her Department is taking to ensure that GP practices are being set up in disadvantaged areas and/or areas with few or no GPs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34933/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Currently there are 2,558 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme. A further 629 GPs do not hold a GMS contract but do hold at least one other contract with the HSE. 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.
Measures have been taken to increase the number of GPs practising throughout the country, thereby improving access to services for all patients.
Significant increases in investment in general practice have been provided under the 2019 and 2023 GP Agreements. Under the 2019 GP Agreement additional annual expenditure provided for general practice was increased by €211.6m. This provides for increased capitation fees for participating GMS GPs, new fees for additional services and increased practice supports.
The 2019 GP Agreement also introduced a grant for urban practices with large numbers of GMS patients living in disadvantaged areas. The grant can be used to provide for additional services for patients and additional staff hours. Over 300 GPs received this grant last year.
The GP Agreement 2023 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.
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 from 2024. As a result, the number of GP graduates has increased in recent years and will continue to increase in the coming years. Furthermore, recruitment of GPs from abroad is ongoing under the International Medical Graduate (IMG) Rural GP Programme. 118 IMG doctors are currently in practice here with a further 18 having completed the new 2-year programme. The placement of IMG GPs is targeted to 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 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.