Roderic O'Gorman wouldn't commit to a further 25 per cent cut in the cost of childcare in this year's budget.
Childcare providers have said the core funding model on its own isn't working with some seeking to increase fees.
Hundreds of childcare providers fighting for more Government funding staged a protest outside the Dáil today
The Federation of Childhood Providers say businesses around the country who operate preschools can no longer survive by earning 69 euro per child per week.
10 buses filled with preschool owners and staff returned to Cork this evening but they have vowed to protest outside Local TD's offices for the next two days.
Minister O'Gorman says the freezing of fees in exchange for State support is an key part of the agreement
"Well, it is important that we are able to bring about an element of fee control like we're putting in an additional quarter of a billion euro directly into services. There has to be some give back to the State for that, and that is to actually secure constance fees for parents"
