Almost 6,000 people have sought assistance from the Health Service Executive so far this year to find a GP, as new figures highlight growing pressure on Ireland's general practice services amid continued population growth.
Data released in response to parliamentary questions submitted by Sinn Féin health spokesperson David Cullinane shows that 5,775 people with medical cards or GP visit cards contacted the HSE's GP Assignment Office by the end of July after experiencing difficulty registering with a GP practice.
The figures also point to a widening gap between population growth and the expansion of GP services. Ireland's population grew by approximately 10% between 2020 and 2025, while the total number of practising GPs increased by 6.4% over the same period.
The increase has been even more limited within the public system. The number of GPs providing care under the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme, which covers patients with medical cards and GP visit cards, rose by just 2.3% since 2020. By comparison, the number of GPs operating outside the GMS scheme increased by 26.8%.
Only 59 additional GPs have signed contracts to provide services under the GMS scheme during the five-year period.
Commenting on the figures, Mr Cullinane said they reflected a failure to expand publicly funded GP services in line with demand.
“The figures tell us how the growth in general practice has been concentrated outside the public system, while the number of publicly contracted GPs has barely moved,” he said.
He described the number of patients seeking help from the HSE to secure a GP as deeply concerning.
“An extraordinary figure which should ring alarm bells throughout Government,” he said.
Mr Cullinane also highlighted the situation in Waterford, where he said access to GP services had become increasingly difficult despite population growth.
“While the county's population has grown significantly over recent years, the county has gained just three additional GPs since 2020. More worrying still, the number of GMS GPs has actually fallen, meaning access to publicly funded general practice has become even more difficult despite a growing population,” he said.
According to the figures, the overall number of GPs increased from 3,034 in 2020 to 3,227 by the end of 2025, an increase of 193 doctors.
The number of GPs participating in the GMS scheme reached 2,593 by the end of last year, while the number of non-GMS GPs rose from 500 to 634 during the same period.
The latest data follows analysis published by the Irish College of General Practitioners last week, which identified significant shortages of GPs in commuter counties and many rural communities.
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has previously stated that increasing the GP workforce remains a key government priority under the Programme for Government. A strategic review of general practice is currently underway and is expected to be completed later this year, with recommendations aimed at creating a more sustainable model for GP services.
The Government has also expanded GP training in recent years, with annual training places increasing to 350 in both 2024 and 2025.
However, Mr Cullinane said increasing training numbers alone would not solve workforce shortages.
“Although 350 graduates a year are being trained, not all of those will go into General Practice. Some go on to become locums, some work elsewhere in the health service,” he said.
“I know from talking to many trainees that they don't feel valued, they look at that very heavy workload, they look at current GPs some of them working into their 80s, they want a better work-life balance. They want more choice.”
He argued that introducing a dedicated public GP contract would help attract and retain doctors within general practice.
“If people cannot get access to a GP, it impacts continuity of care, with more people attending emergency departments, which causes problems elsewhere in the health system,” he said.
In a statement, the Department of Health said the Government remained committed to expanding GP services nationwide.
“The Government is committed, as per the Programme for Government, to increase the number of GPs practising across the country and thereby increase access to GP services for all patients,” a spokesperson said.
The department said more than €340 million in additional annual funding had been invested in general practice through the 2019 and 2023 GP GMS agreements.
“The Agreements provide for, amongst other things, increased GP capitation fees, increased and new supports for practices, as well as new fees for additional services.”
The spokesperson added that targeted supports are available for eligible GP practices operating in rural communities and areas of urban social deprivation.
The department also highlighted the expansion of GP training places.
“The annual intake of doctors into the GP training programme has been increased by approximately 80% from 2019 to 2024, with 350 new entrant training places made available in 2024 and again in 2025. As a result, the number of GP graduates has increased in recent years and will continue to increase in the coming years,” the statement said.
