I raise the issue of access for private patients to GP care. A number of constituents have contacted me in recent weeks because they cannot get access to a GP. We welcome the many Ukrainians who have come to our county. We are building a village in Thurles with 60-plus modular units. We are providing other buildings for refugees from Ukraine. It is essential we have the services, both medical and educational, to ensure everyone has access to the services they need. The lack of GP services for private patients is becoming a big issue in my county.

I thank the Deputy. I am aware this is an issue not only in the Deputy's county but throughout the State. People are struggling to find a GP with whom to register. It is certainly an issue in my constituency too. We have more GPs with HSE contracts than ever before but, of course, we also have a bigger population than ever before. We have an ageing population with growing medical needs. We are keen to work with the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, and the Irish College of General Practitioners, ICGP, to find solutions to this issue. We are dramatically increasing the number of GPs we are training to try to increase the number of GPs working in the service.