Some 1,784 GPs signed up to free care for children under 6

The Department of Health has said 74 per cent of GPs - 1,784 - have signed up to the proposed new contract for free family doctor care for children under age 6.

Minster for Health Leo Varadkar has said it would be inappropriate to meet with GPs from south Tipperary where opposition is strongest to the Government's plans.

He said any such meeting on the under 6 issue might create an impression that the proposed contract for this service could be altered or renegotiated.

The Minister said there could be no changes to the proposed agreement.

“It was negotiated over a period of almost two years and has already been signed by just under 75 per cent of GPs. It’s done.

“My focus now is on the successful implementation of the contract and moving on quickly to a new core contract dealing with many other pressing issues including the unwinding of FEMPI (financial emergency legislation which underpinned fee cuts over recent years), extending the scope of services provided by general practitioners, extending access without fees to more children, a renewed focus on chronic diseases and addressing concerns about supports for rural practices and those in disadvantaged areas. I am really looking forward to this engagement.”

Mr Varadkar said that as a Government Minister he had to have regard “to the provisions of Irish and European competition law which prevents businesses, contractors and independent professionals and self-employed traders from engaging in collective action”.

He said that to date, it has not been possible for him to meet with individual local groups of GPs or faculties as there were so many.

However he said that while he do not rule out doing so in the future, he did not think it would be appropriate to do so in the context of the under 6 contract.

On Thursday about 30 GPs wrote to the Minster seeking a meeting on their concerns regarding the proposed under 6 contract.