75% of GPs set to join under-6 scheme by end of June

Three quarters of GPs are expected to have signed up to a scheme offering free care to more than 270,000 children aged under six by the end of the month. As demand from parents for online registration caused a system crash on day one, health chiefs said 62% of doctors have so far put their names down for the service.

Health Minister Leo Varadkar predicted the figure will rise to over 75% by the time the free scheme starts on July 1.

Slow uptake in some areas has been shrugged off by Mr Varadkar, who described the radical reform as an investment in future generations. In South Tipperary, just 8% of GPs had signed up yesterday and 24% in Co Louth.