1161. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health whether consideration was given to allocating the social deprivation practice support grant at practice level rather than individual GP level, given that the grant is intended to support additional clinical, nursing and key-worker resources within the practice; and if she will provide the analysis underpinning the decision taken. [64466/26]

1163. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the rationale for assessing eligibility for the Social Deprivation Practice Support Grant under Circular NCO-02-2026 on the basis of individual GMS GP patient panels rather than on the basis of the overall patient population served by a GP practice; and whether an assessment was undertaken of the impact of this approach on group practices. [64465/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1161 and 1163 together.

The 2019 GP Agreement between the Department of Health, the HSE, and the IMO introduced a social deprivation grant to support GMS GPs in socially deprived urban areas to provide additional services. The grant can be used to cover the costs associated with additional clinical supports such as increased doctor or nurse hours, increased key worker hours, or additional counselling hours to meet the needs of patients within the practice.

It was set out in the Agreement that the GPs to receive the grant would be identified on the basis of a recognised deprivation index. However, work to identify those practices was delayed by the Covid Pandemic. Grants were therefore allocated in the years 2020 to 2024 on the basis of applications received from GPs.

In late 2025, the HSE, the Department of Health, the GP representative body and representatives of GPs working in areas of deprivation reached agreement to improve the targeting of the social deprivation grant, as required by the 2019 Agreement.

The current grant allocation process uses a data analysis approach, as was always intended, based on GEO coding of GP practices and using a recognised deprivation index, in this case Pobal’s HP Deprivation Index which is widely recognised and used. This approach identified the GPs and practices to be included in distribution of the grant.

The allocation process makes the best use of available data, information in relation to GPs, their GMS patient panel and the deprivation experienced by those patients, in identifying the most socially deprived GP panels held by GPs across the country. GP practices in areas of social deprivation urban areas will also be utilised by private patients living in the same area.

Grants are allocated on an individual GP rather than GP practice basis. However, if more than two eligible GPs are working in the same practice, the practice will be limited to receiving two allocations. This balanced approach allows larger practices with more patients to receive additional funding, while maintaining a better spread of funding across practices in socially deprived areas. Furthermore, the grant amounts have been increased significantly from the previous allocation process with practices in receipt of the social deprivation benefiting from more funding.

The HSE, GP representatives and representatives of GPs working in areas of deprivation, and the Department of Health will carry out a “look back” exercise of the grant allocation process before the end of 2026, with a view to ensuring that the current approach is effective and reaches those most in need.