Minister: State doesn't 'regulate' number of GPs in a community
The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has said that the state does not "regulate" the number of GPs that can set up in a town or community.
The minister was responding to a parliamentary question from Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide this week (June 2025).
Deputy Quaide asked the minister her plans to address the shortage of general practitioners serving rural towns.
Minister Carroll MacNeill explained that GPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place "of their own choosing".
Under the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders.
According to the minister, as of June 1, there are 2,558 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS scheme, a further 629 GPs do not hold a GMS contract but hold at least one other contract with the HSE for the provision of health services.
She said: "The government is aware that there is limited access to GP services in certain areas and that more GPs are needed to improve the availability of GP services.
"A number of measures have been taken in recent years to increase the attractiveness of general practice in Ireland as a career and increase the number of GPs practicing here," Minister Carroll MacNeill added.
According to the minister, the practice support package for rural GP practices was increased by 10% under the 2019 GP Agreement.
She also outlined that practices in receipt of rural practice supports attract the maximum allowable rates for practice staff support subsidies and locum contributions for leave taking.
The minister said: "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. 119 IMG GPs were in practice as of November last and funding has been provided to recruit up to 250 more GPs to Ireland this year," Minnister Carroll MacNeill added.
