Hayes: Free GP care will be 'hard to achieve' by 2016

The Junior Finance Minister has admitted that the Government will be hard pushed to achieve universal free GP care by 2016.

The move is one of number of proposals by the Health Minister to reform the health system.

James Reilly is currently facing a wave of criticism from opposition parties in relation to his handling of his department, with estimations that his budget could exceed the €666m of cuts set out in Budget 2014.

Speaking today, Minister of State at the Department of Finance Brian Hayes said the Department of Health may not be able to afford free GP care.

"I think that will be hard to achieve - but I hope we can achieve it because both parties want to achieve that," he said.

"I think it's only right - it's logical.

"If you're trying to take the pressure away from the acute hospital care and put it into community and primary healthcare, you have to do that in my view," he added.