A total of 830 GPs have signed up so far to the new free GP care contract for under-sixes, Minister of State for Primary Care Kathleen Lynch has told the Dáil.
She described this as a "substantial number" and said that more GPs are expected to sign up over the coming period.
Ms Lynch said that 5 June has been set as the extended date by the Health Service Executive for doctors to sign up, but said this was not a cut-off point.
She said that patient registration would begin in June and the scheme will start in July.
She also said that the contract is only available to doctors who are on the specialist register as general practitioners.
Meanwhile. the GP Committee of the Irish Medical Organisation has expressed "grave concern at attempts to create division, fear and uncertainty" among GPs over the scheme.
The Committee says it recognises the need for all GPs to be free to make an individual decision on the matter based on the circumstances of their own practice.
