I am sure the Tánaiste is well aware that the country is sleepwalking into a crisis in terms of the provision of front-line community medical care through our GPs. Some 10% of the approximately 2,400 GPs practising around the country are due to retire in the next two years, with 30% due to retire within the next seven years. In County Limerick, we have 46 GPs and almost a quarter are due to retire in the next four years. We are sleepwalking to the edge of a cliff and, if the current situation continues, many parts of the country will not have a GP to provide care in the community. It is a serious situation. The FEMPI cuts, which affect the provision of primary care centres, are a money issue but what is the Government doing to retain GPs in the country and to ramp up the numbers to replace those who are retiring with an average retirement age of approximately 68?

We are increasing the number of training places for GPs and we are seeing a gradual increase in that area. An engagement involving the Department of Health, the HSE and the Irish Medical Organisation on general practitioner contractual issues, such as FEMPI, is expected to resume next month. The Minister wants to speak directly to GPs on the issue.