Just over half (53 per cent) of places on the National Specialist Training Programme in General Practice in 2025 were filled by doctors trained in Irish medical schools, the Medical Independent (MI) has learned.
Some 189 doctors trained in Irish medical schools were accepted onto the GP scheme this year out of a total of 351 places offered, data obtained through Freedom of Information shows.
A breakdown of the figures received shows significant interest from medical graduates outside the European Union (EU) in the training scheme. A total of 1,793 applications for the 2025 scheme were lodged. Out of all applications received, 1,266 were from non-EU citizens and 527 applicants were from the EU, including the UK and Ireland. The number of non-EU citizens applying to the scheme has increased significantly in recent years.
In 2024, 188 graduates from Irish medical schools were accepted onto the GP training scheme compared to 189 in 2025.
Dublin-based GP Dr Ray Walley told MI: “Hundreds of Irish-trained doctors were unsuccessful at applying to get interviewed, and even larger numbers were unsuccessful when interviewed to get a GP training post.”
Dr Walley added that while Irish-trained doctors have been “highly sought after in Canada, the UK, Australia, and the US”, they are increasingly struggling to gain GP training positions in Ireland. He described this as “a new phenomenon”, which requires further examination and action.
Dr Walley noted that many countries adopt protectionist policies to ensure that the State’s substantial investment in medical education – approximately €25,000 per student annually in Ireland – is retained through postgraduate training within their own healthcare systems.
For example, in Ontario, Canada, in order to be eligible for a medical residency/postgraduate training, the applicant must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Dr Tadhg Crowley, Chair of the IMO GP committee, said the number of Irish-trained graduates accepted onto the scheme was “disappointing”.
“Ultimately, you want people educated and trained in Ireland coming back into general practice,” Dr Crowley told MI.
“It’s disappointing for me, as a GP, in terms of trying to encourage as many people trained in the Irish system to come into general practice. We need to maximise the numbers educated in Ireland going into general practice and reduce any barriers.”
Dr Crowley said he was “surprised” by the volume of applications to the scheme from abroad.
“They are very large numbers. The question is, why are so many applying?”
Meanwhile, the Irish College of GPs recently celebrated its highest ever number of GP graduates at its annual graduation ceremony in Dublin.
The ceremony saw the graduation of 207 GP trainees from the 2025 training programme, who have completed the four-year scheme to join the specialist register of the Medical Council.
It also includes 26 GPs on the International Medical Graduate Rural GP Programme, who have joined the specialist register after an intensive two-year programme of clinical mentorship and learning in rural practices around Ireland.
In total, 233 new GPs are becoming members of the specialist register, and “the vast majority are currently working in Ireland”, according to the College.
*This article, originally published on 11 November, has been amended to reflect updated data provided to MI.
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