Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 November 2013
602. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the total number of general practitioners, GMS and non-GMS, currently working here; the number of GPs who qualified from the training schemes in the past five years still working here; the number of GPs that will be needed to provide universal health care to the population by 2016; and the plans in place to meet the shortfall. [50341/13]
View answerOn 20 November 2013, 2,828 medical practitioners held registration as trained Specialists in the specialty of General Practice on the Specialist Division of the Medical Council's Register of Medical Practitioners. Holding registration does not necessarily mean that the medical practitioner is in active practice in General Practice at this time. On 20 November 2013, 2,408 general practitioners (GPs) held a General Medical Services (GMS) contract.
The HSE is currently engaged in a medical workforce planning project, which will include a workforce plan for GPs. When this work has been completed, it will assist in identifying GP requirements. I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy regarding the number of GPs who qualified from training schemes in the past five years and are still working in general practice in Ireland.
