Vol. 557 No. 6
23 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the recent call made by the chairman of the Irish College of General Practitioners for an increase in the number of GPs; his plan for the provision of additional GPs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22903/02]
Officials of my Department have met the Irish College of General Practitioners, ICGP, to discuss the development of general professional and general practice training in Ireland. Following on from these discussions, the college has submitted a position paper on the matter. I am grateful to the ICGP for its input and expertise in this area. My Department will continue to work with the college and the training programmes towards the achievement of both the highest standards of GP training and the provision of the increasing number of general practitioners required for primary care services into the future. This is important in the context of the manpower requirements to deliver the major enhancement of the level and nature of primary care services envisaged in the primary care strategy. I am committed to increasing the number of GP training places as resources permit.
