Some 10,000 children aged five and under were signed up for free GP care during the first day of registration for the scheme, the HSE has confirmed.

From July 1, all children in the State who are under the age of six will be eligible for free GP care, and Monday marked the first day that parents could register their children's details.

By 12.30pm, 6,000 children had already been registered.

The HSE's website which provides information on the scheme and the names of doctors taking part, crashed due to the ‘huge volumes of traffic'. However parents were assured that there is plenty of time to register.

The new scheme will apply to around 276,000 children under the age of six who do not have medical cards. This means that from the summer, when those with medical cards are included, almost 300,000 children will be able to see their GP for free.

Launching the online registration system, Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, described this as the ‘widest extension in health care eligibility since Erskine Childers brought in the first GMS contract almost half a century ago'.

"It brings us into line with what other European countries did decades ago. I strongly believe that, in the future, children should not be means tested for healthcare based on their parents' income. We don't do it for education, childcare or child benefit and we should strive to reach a stage where we don't do it for healthcare," he commented.

To register, the child's PPs number, gender and date of birth are required, along with a parent's or guardian's PPS number, contact details and the selected GP.

"If their GP of choice is accepting online registrations, they simply submit their completed application online and await GP acceptance. If their GP of choice is not accepting online registrations, they complete the form online, print it and bring it to their GP of choice for acceptance and return it to us by post.

"If any parent or guardian needs help or guidance they should contact our LoCall helpline, 1890 252 919, and we will gladly assist," explained John Hennessy, the HSE's national director for primary care.

Meanwhile, the HSE said that it is continuing to receive signed contracts from GPs willing to take part in this scheme. As of Monday afternoon, 62% of GPs had signed up for the scheme, with the highest sign-up in Donegal (94%) and the lowest in south Tipperary (8%).

To register your child for the scheme, click here