The number of GP training places is to rise to 350 next year, up by 35% on this year.
Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly said that for every two GPs that currently retire, three to six new GPs are entering practice.
The number of applications for GP training places is also on the rise, with 1,311 medical graduates applying for a post next year.
It was encouraging that so many doctors are choosing general practice as their career, Chief Executive of the Irish College of GPs (ICGP) Fintan Foy said.
The ICGP has estimated that Ireland needs at least 50% more GPs just to meet demand, which would equate to around 2,000 more family doctors bringing the total to 6,000.
It says that the workload of GPs has increased since the Covid-19 pandemic.
There has been "unprecedented demand" for places, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland Minister Donnelly said: "I'm very aware that in parts of the country it's very difficult to find a GP and we've been acting on this now for the past three years increasing the number of places and investing in general practice."
He credited the ICGP for their recruitment of an extra 100 GPs this year, and resourcing "rural areas where they're really struggling", Minster Donnelly added.
On the recent HSE memo on nursing home care, Minister Donnelly said that it was an important part of the response to over crowding in emergency departments.
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