GPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in a town or community.
Where a GP GMS vacancy is set to arise in a practice, the HSE is notified in advance and becomes actively involved in the recruitment process to find a replacement GP. As of the 1st of October, there are 25 GMS vacancies across the country, just under 1 percent of the total number of GMS panels.
I have asked the HSE to provide the Deputy with an update on GMS GP vacancy in Cheathrú Rua.