Sinn Féin's Spokesperson on Health David Cullinane has told the Dáil that he is "very fearful" that there will soon be waiting lists for GPs or longer wait times.
He said: "We have far too many people attending emergency departments who should be cared for elsewhere, and some of them simply can't get access to out-of-hour GP services."
Mr Cullinane called for a new GP contract, as the current one is "archaic" when it came to staffing subsidies, and not fit for purpose due to many not wanting to work out-of-hours.
In reply, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said he agreed there was a need for a new GP contract, adding: "When we can find a bit of clear space, which will be soon, we can sit down with the Irish Medical Organisation and we can start to look at a modern fit-for-purpose GP contract."
However, the minister said he would like to hear "more balance" from the representative bodies of GPs about the capacity which has already been added by the Government.
He said baseline funding for general practice has increased by more than €210m since 2019 - an increase of 40% - and there would be "very significant additional funding" in the next budget, in terms of extra capacity.
Mr Cullinane said he welcomed any additional funding but directly employed GPs were now required to provide out of hours locum support as well as out-of-hours services that GPs no longer wanted to provide.
Addressing Government plans, the Sinn Féin TD for Waterford said: "There is a fear that if you try and go too quickly, and the infrastructure is not there, what we'll end up with are waiting lists for GPs, which I am sure you don't want, I don't want and certainly patients don't want."
Minister Donnelly said he was "very open" to the idea of GPs being directly employed by the HSE.
He said: "I think it's something we should pursue."
