Doctors are warning they won't be able to cope with free GP care for all primary school children.
The Government is defending the proposals saying money shouldn't be a barrier to healthcare.
Currently all children under the age of six are entitled to free GP care and the Government has pledged to extend that to all children under the age of 13.
But the Irish Medical Organisation says doctors are already under intense pressure and won't be able to cope with a rise in patients.
Dr William Behan said that if the doctor is free – parents will be far quicker to bring their children in.
“We teach people to be helpless by not helping them to develop the skillset to make decisions about their own health and that is the problem with free GP care.
“If it is free they will take it.
“If they don’t have to think about it they won’t take the responsibility of making the decision.”
He said children aged 6 to 13-years-old attend their GP the least amount of any demographic in the country.
“The Healthy Ireland survey suggests they attend 2.2 times per annum.
“That will probably go up 50% to 3.3, it could go up 60% if they all get free GP care.
Meanwhile, the IMO is accusing the Government of promising to extend the free GP service because it knows an election around the corner.
But Ministers are defending the scheme.
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, the Environment Minister Richard Bruton said the Government wants to ensure that any child that needs a doctor can see one.
“It would be wholly wrong if parents are holding back from bringing their children to see a doctor for financial reasons,” he said.
“This has been part of Government strategy for nearly ten years – that we would extend cover for young children to ensure they can get access, so that you don’t see those illnesses escalate.”
The IMO said that when doctors read of promises like free GP care - their hearts sink because they say the service is already fragile and the people who should know better don't seem to care.
Reporting from Stephanie Rohan
