Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney has said 200,000 doctor-only medical cards could be issued as early as next month following the release of Labour Relations Commission (LRC) recommendations today.
The LRC recommendations would see doctors' pay issues addressed in return for co-operation with the system, and GPs will get €35 for each doctor-only card they sign up.
The settlement terms proposed by the LRC include the payment of €48.5 million in arrears of general round increases paid to other health service personnel - but withheld from GPs.
The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) and the Health Service Executive (HSE) have been involved in a protracted dispute on the issue.
A spokeswoman for the IMO said the doctors' group would not be commenting on the recommendations until after a meeting of its GP committee tomorrow night. She said the meeting would decide whether a vote was needed on the LRC proposals.
In a statement, Ms Harney welcomed the LRC recommendations. "As well as allowing for the GP visit cards to be issued, the LRC recommendations address a whole range of longstanding issues of dispute between the Department/HSE and the IMO.
"I expect that these cards will benefit 200,000 people. They allow us to meet the needs of families on low incomes who were put off bringing their children to the doctor because of cost," Ms Harney added.
In total, over 1.3 million people will now have free access to their GP, Ms Harney said. She said the HSE would shortly advertise the new cards with a view to having them issued by next month.
"I would encourage people on low incomes to apply for them right away."
