Just 8% of GPs in south Tipperary have signed up for the scheme which will see all children under the age of six receive free care.

According to figures from the HSE, as of June 10, 53% of GPs who hold medical card contracts had signed up for the scheme - that is 1,279 out of 2,414.

Along with south Tipperary, the areas with the lowest number of GPs signing up included Louth (22%), Cork - South Lee (23%), Kildare/west Wicklow (26%) and Limerick (29%).

The areas with the highest sign-up included Donegal (93%), Roscommon (90%), Longford/Westmeath (84%), Sligo/Leitrim (81%) and north Cork (80%).

In Dublin, the highest rate was in west Dublin (71%), while the lowest rate was in Dublin south east (32%) and Dun Laoghaire (32%).

The HSE said that an ‘easy to use online registration system' will be up and running from Monday, June 15, for parents to register their children under the age of six.

"The HSE continues to receive signed contracts from GPs and will process these and update this list, and the online registration process for parents, up to and beyond the start of public registration for the new scheme next week," it said.

The free care scheme for children aged five and under is due to come into effect on July 1.