The majority of currently vacant GP panels in the country under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme are in rural areas.

That's according to information provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in response to a parliamentary question from Offaly TD Carol Nolan.

Nolan had asked for the number of GP vacancies in rural practices, and what incentives are offered to attract medical professionals to those areas.

The HSE said that there are currently 3,244 GPs who work with a public contract; 2,611 as part of the GMS Scheme and 633 classified as 'other'.

The executive said that, as of the April 1, there are 20 vacant GMS panels overall across the country, 11 of which are in rural areas.

The HSE noted that the number of vacant GMS panels represents less than 1% of panels nationwide.

In correspondence to Deputy Nolan, the HSE said that appropriate temporary GP arrangements have been put in place for these vacancies, to ensure continuity of care for patients in those communities.

"Local areas continue to explore (and pursue where possible) permanent solutions for these vacancies. Some local recruitment campaigns are underway and in some rural areas, successful candidates have been identified and are progressing through the recruitment process as appropriate," according to the HSE.

However, despite these assurances, Nolan expressed concern over a lack of GP cover in rural areas.

According to the independent TD, she has received a "surge in representation" from constituents who could not find a GP to take them on as new patients.

"The HSE correctly points out that the current vacant panel rate is less than 1% of panels overall. But for the patients, families and communities directly affected, that statistic offers no comfort," she said.

Nolan added: "The impact of losing a local GP service is just as real and just as severe as if the figure was 20 times higher.

"Even where temporary measures can be put in place, this still usually means that elderly or vulnerable patients face longer journeys for basic care," she said.

"Rural Ireland cannot afford to lose any more ground on access to general practice. The people I represent in Offaly, and rural communities right across the country, deserve parity of access," Nolan commented.