Free GP care looks set to be extended to all children under the age of 12 some time next year.

It has been reported that as part of Budget 2016, which is announced today (October 13), Health Minister, Leo Varadkar, has been provided with additional money to fund the expansion.

Since July 1 of this year, all children aged five and under have been eligible for free GP care. This new scheme covers around 276,000 children, and when combined with children who already have medical cards, it means that almost 300,000 children can now see their GP free of charge.

However, an expansion of the scheme to children under the age of 12 would be subject to agreement with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), and the talks to extend free GP care to children under six proved extremely difficult, with some GPs initially refusing to take part in the scheme.

Some argued that it was unethical to provide free GP care to children under the age of six from well-off families at the expense of older and sicker children.

It is unclear when the new scheme would come into effect, but would most likely be towards the end of 2016.