Local TD raises GP shortage crisis in Laois with Taoiseach

Aird raises urgent GP shortage crisis in Laois with Taoiseach

Fine Gael TD for Laois, Deputy William Aird, has raised the escalating shortage of GPs in County Laois directly with Taoiseach Micheál Martin during Questions on Promised Legislation in Dáil Éireann on Tuesday afternoon.

Deputy Aird highlighted the pressure on primary care services in the county, pointing to significant population growth in recent years without a corresponding increase in GP capacity.

Speaking in the Dáil, he said: “I want to raise the issue of GP shortages in County Laois. The population of Laois has risen sharply over the past decade but primary care services have not kept pace.”

He added: “I acknowledge the tremendous work of local GPs. They are the backbone of community healthcare.”

However, Deputy Aird warned that access to services is becoming increasingly difficult, particularly in Portlaoise.

“The reality is the HSE can assign a GP to a medical card and GP visit card holder, but there are no GPs in the Portlaoise area with capacity and private patients are being left without access to a full-time GP,” he said. “This is not sustainable for a growing county like Laois.”

He also raised concerns about future demand linked to housing growth, noting that thousands of new homes are planned for the area.

“The Taoiseach knows that we in County Laois have a quota of houses to build over the next seven years, and rightly so. In Portlaoise alone, that number is 5,000 houses,” he said. “I ask the Taoiseach to come up with some plan.”

In response, Taoiseach Micheál Martin acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and outlined current Government measures to expand GP capacity.

He said general practice is “one of the cornerstones” of the health service and pointed to increased Government investment in recent years.

He said more than €1 billion is now spent annually on general practice and that a strategic review of the sector is under way. He also noted that the number of GP training places has increased significantly since 2020.

The Taoiseach said increasing the number of trained GPs would be key to addressing capacity issues in the years ahead.

Deputy Aird said the response, while welcome, must now translate into tangible improvements on the ground in Laois.

“The reality for many families in Laois is that they simply cannot access a GP when they need one. That is deeply concerning. We are a growing county, with significant housing development planned, and healthcare provision must keep pace with that growth,” he said.

He added that urgent action is needed to support newly qualified GPs to set up practices in areas like Laois where demand is highest.

“I will continue to work with Government to ensure that practical supports are put in place to attract and retain GPs in Laois. Patients deserve certainty, access, and timely care in their own communities,” Deputy Aird concluded.