PQ: 10295/25 to ask the Minister for Health the number of GPs per thousand of population, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Reply from HSE
Dear Deputy Cooney,
I refer to your parliamentary question, which was passed to the HSE for response.
There are approximately 3,160 GPs with a public contract (2,552 GMS & 608 others) and c.800 GPs including those who work privately, GPs in training and International Medical Graduate (IMG) participants. Please find attached Appendix 1 which sets down the number of General Practitioners (GMS GPs and
GPs registered to provide other services*) that are in practice in each county broken down into CHO and LHO area as of 2024.
*Please note that the attached data includes GPs not contracted to the GMS Scheme but who are registered to provide services such as the Primary Childhood Immunisation Scheme, Maternity & Infant, the Health (Amendment) Act 1996, Methadone Treatment Scheme and National Cancer Screening
Service.
The HSE is actively working to increase the number of GPs through various initiatives.
Expansion of GP Training
The HSE is working closely with the Irish College of General Practitioners on a range of measures to expand the GP Workforce and in developing a sustainable model of General Practice for the future in line with Sláintecare. GP Training Places have increased from an intake of 259 in 2022 to 286 in 2023 and an intake of 350 in 2024. The total number of trainees undertaking the four-year programme will increase
from the current 1,044 to 1,300 in 2026 – a 25% increase. Funding has been provided in the 2024 budget
to enable the HSE and the ICGP to implement this initiative at pace.
International Medical Graduate (IMG) Programme
The International Medical Graduates (IMG) Programme, is an initiative supported by the ICGP, HSE and the IMO aimed at expanding GP workforce in rural and urban disadvantaged areas. As of Q3 2024, 129 candidates have started with the IMG Programme with over 100 of these currently working in General
Practice. Recruitment is ongoing in 2025. This has a very immediate impact on GP shortages. The new additional posts work in General Practice for a 2 year period, following which they can take up an Irish GMS contract. The initiative is targeted at rural areas, areas of urban deprivation and those difficult to fill
posts in various geographical locations across the country. IMG candidates are in place across all the Health Regions, and the initiative has helped ease the pressures on GP Practices in areas such as the southwest, southeast, midlands and western seaboard.
General Practice Strategic Review
The Minister for Health has established a Strategic Review of General Practice. The Review is being led by the Department of Health, with support from the HSE and input from key stakeholders, including the IMO and ICGP. The Review is examining the issues affecting general practice including GP training, GP capacity, Out of Hours services reform, the eHealth Agenda, and the financial support model for general
practice.
The Review will then identify the arrangements necessary to improve the current system of GP care as part of a primary care-focused health service and in line with the Sláintecare vision on access.
Following its conclusion, a report will be presented to the Minister for Health giving an assessment of the challenges affecting general practice and setting out the actions needed to provide for a more sustainable GP service. Meetings of the Joint Department of Health/HSE Steering Group are ongoing and
engagement with relevant stakeholders is currently underway.
I trust this is of assistance etc…