Opposition is growing from GP groups to Health Minister James Reilly's plans to provide free GP care to all children under six.

The Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) has now said a draft contract produced by the Department of Health for the planned under-sixes GP scheme 'could destabilise current service delivery'.

The contract has already been strongly criticised by the GPs' union, the IMO.

The ICGP, in a statement, it was supportive of all attempts by the Government to improve the quality of service for patients in general practice.

"However, the draft contract as proposed is not deliverable with available manpower and resources, and could destabilise current service delivery, which is already working at full capacity."

The College said the contract as proposed tried to cover all eventualities and absolve the HSE of any responsibility for service delivery.

"If the Government is serious about putting primary care and general practice at the centre of the health service, it needs to show a commitment to doing so - this contract in its current format will not meet that aim."

The ICGP also believes the cost of the under sixes scheme will be far greater than indicated by the Government, which has allocated €37 million for it this year.

The College, which represents most GPs in the country, said it would now be seeking feedback from members on the under sixes proposal so that their views can be put to the Minister of State for Primary Care, Alex White, as part of the consultation process.

The IMO has claimed the Government is using the extension of GP cards to children under the age of six as a 'trojan horse' to push through a radical reform of the terms and conditions of doctors dealing with public patients without any negotiation.

It said the operation of the under sixes service as proposed in the draft document would significantly increase GP workload and add to their responsibilities, and called on the Government to properly negotiate on the new scheme.

The Government has indicated that it intends to introduce free GP care for under sixes by the summer.