Twenty-one family doctors earned more than €500,000 from the State for treating medical card holders last year.
Figures published by the Health Service Executive yesterday showed that the highest earner was Dr Anthony Crosby, Raheny, Dublin, who was paid €705,057.
The second highest earner was Dr John Casey, Sutton, Dublin, who was paid €679,986 and the third highest paid GP in the scheme was Dr Michael Casey, Carna, Co Galway, who earned €663,347.
The amounts paid include fees for treating patients as well as allowances for the development of general practice facilities.
Overall the fees and allowances paid to doctors last year increased by €97 million to €414 million, however, the bulk of this - some €93 million - is accounted for by arrears paid to GPs in line with a Labour Relations Commission agreement.
The Irish Medical Organisation pointed out that the payments often have to cover the costs of a number of GPs in a single practice, as well as the salaries of a practice nurse and secretary along with other overheads.
More than €1.8 billion was paid to doctors, pharmacists, dentists and opticians last year for treatment of eligible patients.
This was an increase of more than €228 million on 2004. Payments to pharmacies amounted to €1,198 million, dentists €55 million and opticians €17 million.
The highest paid dentist in the scheme was Dr Terence Fox in Letterkenny who was paid €306,428.
The highest paid pharmacy was Abbey Healthcare Ltd Blackrock, Dublin, which earned €813,208 and the highest paid opticians were Specsavers Cork which was paid €212,266.