GPs are likely to be offered around €100 a year per child under the Government's plans for free GP care for children under six years of age.

The payment from the State to GPs is expected to be set at around €75 a year for each child under six on their lists, plus €25 a year if the doctor weighs and checks the height of the child three times a year, RTE News has reported.

Talks between the doctors' union - the IMO, the Department of Health and the HSE on the under sixes scheme are believed to be entering their final stages with the Government hopeful that a deal can be announced shortly.

Any deal that is finally agreed cannot be the subject of a ballot by among IMO GP members, due to Competition Law restrictions. It will be up to each individual GP to decide whether to accept the under sixes agreement and to treat this age group in their practices without charging private fees.

A rival GP representative group, the National Association of General Practitioners, which has been excluded from the talks on the new scheme, has recommended that its members do not sign up to any new deal emerging from the talks.

While the overall extent of the take-up from GPs of the new scheme cannot yet be predicted, it is likely that some GPs may refuse to operate the scheme and will continue to charge under sixes for treatment.

Parents who currently have to pay for this treatment may therefore have to switch GPs in order to avail of free care for their young children. Under the under sixes scheme, parents would still have to pay for any drug costs following a GP visit by their child, up to a maximum of €144 per month.

Medical card patients already receive free care for their children under six, although they have to pay prescription charges. The Government also plans to extend free GP visits to all people over 70 later this year.

Health management and the IMO last week reached a memorandum of understanding which is expected to pave the way for talks on a major new GP contract to replace the current agreement, which is regarded as out of date.

Talks on an overall contract will tie in with the Government's plan for free GP care at the point of access for the entire population.

However, even if agreement is reached on this, universal GP care is not likely to be implemented in the life of the current Government.

It is expected the Government will agree to reverse some of the fee cuts imposed in recent years on GPs treating medical card patients, as a 'carrot' to encourage agreement on a new contract.