Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 November 2025
1111. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the provisions being put in place to address the difficulties faced by patients in securing access to local GP services following the retirement of their GP, particularly in areas experiencing population growth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63668/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra1114. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health the number of Irish residents who, following the retirement of their GP, have been refused access to a new GP practice on the grounds of capacity in each county over the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63671/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1111 and 1114 together.
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 2,587 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme. A further 634 GPs do not hold a GMS contract but hold some other contract(s) with the HSE for the delivery of health services.
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 for the panel concerned. While recruitment is ongoing, the HSE put a locum or other suitable arrangement in place to provide continuity of care. As of September, there were 24 GMS vacancies across the country, less than 1 percent of the total number of GMS panels.
Under the terms of the GMS contract, the HSE has the power to assign a medical card or GP visit card holder to a GP's GMS patient list where that person is unable to find a GP to accept them as a patient, in accordance with the terms of the GMS contract.
People who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis and can make enquiries directly to any GP practice they wish to register with. As private contractors, it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients.
As GPs are private practitioners, and as people who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GPs service on a private basis, neither the Department of Health nor the HSE hold the information requested in relation to private patients not accepted to a new GP practice.
Work is ongoing to increase the number of GPs practicing in the State and thereby improve access to GP services for all patients across the country.
Over €340 million in additional annual investment in general practice has been provided under the 2019 and 2023 GP GMS Agreements. The Agreements provide for increased GP capitation fees, increased and new supports for practices, as well as new fees for additional services. The 2023 Agreement 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. The number of new entrant training places is to increase again next year by 50 places to 400. 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 end of Q3, there are 115 IMG GPs within the programme currently placed in general practice and a further 39 have completed the 2-year programme. The placement of IMG GPs is targeted to rural and underserved areas.
