Almost 6,000 people have contacted the Health Service Executive already this year seeking help in finding a GP.
New figures also indicate that while Ireland's population increased by around 10% between 2020 and 2025, the total number of GPs increased by just 6.4%, as population growth continues to outstrip growth in services, creating a deficit of doctors to meet patient needs.
The number of GPs treating patients with medical cards has risen by just 2.3% between 2020 and 2025, although the number of GPs entering private practice has increased by 26.8%.
Just 59 GPs have signed up to provide care under the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme for patients with medical cards and GP visit cards since 2020.
The figures were revealed in response to parliamentary questions from Sinn Féin's Health Spokesperson David Cullinane, who said the numbers "tell a story of a Government that has allowed GP services to fall further and further behind the needs of a growing population".
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Last week, fresh analysis by the Irish College of General Practitioners highlighted what it termed were acute shortages of GPs in commuter belts and in rural areas.
Up to the end of July, 5,775 people with medical cards or GP visit cards had contacted the HSE's GP Assignment Office seeking assistance in registering with a practice.
'Alarm bells'
"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," said Mr Cullinane.
The Waterford TD described the number of people seeking assistance from the HSE in looking for a GP as "an extraordinary figure which should ring alarm bells throughout Government".
"In Waterford, the position is particularly stark. 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 added.
The total number of GPs has increased by just 193, from 3,034 to 3,227, between 2020 and the end of 2025.
A total of 2,593 doctors were providing services under the GMS scheme at the end of last year, a rise of 193 medics since 2020. The number of non-GMS GPs increased from 500 to 634.
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has continued to insist work is ongoing in terms of increasing the GP workforce, as per a commitment in the Programme for Government.
Ms Carroll MacNeill told the Dáil in April that a strategic review of general practice was under way and would be completed later this year.
The review will establish recommendations for a more sustainable general practice. The intake of doctors into the GP training programme has also increased in recent years.
Mr Cullinane said 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.
"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 said.
Among the choices there should be is a "public GP contract," Mr Cullinane said.
He said 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".
A spokesperson for the Department of Health said: "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.
"Over €340 million in additional annual expenditure on general practice has been provided under 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.
"Specific supports are available for eligible practices in rural areas and in areas of urban social deprivation."
"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 added.
More GPs needed to tackle ageing population, obesity crisis - IMO doctor
Chairperson of the GP Committee of the Irish Medical Organisation Dr Tadhg Crowley said Ireland needs more GPs due to an older ageing population and obesity crisis.
Listen: 6,000 people contact HSE seeking help finding GP
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Dr Crowley said he was surprised that there were not more people contacting the HSE and that he thinks there are more than 6,000 people looking for a GP.
Speaking on RTÉ's News At One, Dr Crowley said: "In rural areas and commuter belts and urban areas they are struggling to find a GP."
He said the IMO has been highlighting for the last 10 to 15 years that investment is needed in General Practice.
Dr Crowley said Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act cuts "destroyed the fabric of General Practice back in 2008".
"There were deals done in 2019 and 2023 with the department to try and bring the general practice sustainability back up to what we call normality," he said.
He said that we are in the middle of an older ageing population and obesity crisis, which he said, "leads to more chronic disease".
"Which means that we actually need more GPs coming through. So obviously they have increased the number of GP training places but then when they come out the other end we need to look at targeted investment of how to get GPs actually into the areas that we need them but also to get them set up in practice, to get them to join group practices to make it viable for the trainee," he said.
Dr Crowley said it is "really expensive to set up a practice on your own".
He added that group practices that are looking for a GP find that they are short of space and have to invest in their practice, "which is very difficult for them".
