Creche fees could drop under a plan to set up a public childcare system as part of a new programme for government.
The proposal being considered would include a pre-school scheme, full day and after school care provided and could cost parents 100 euro per child a week.
Under the plan, the state would continue to fund childcare workers wages when the pandemic ends.
Providers would lose subsidies for existing childcare schemes and would be required to reduce their fees.
Fianna Fail spokesperson on children and youth affairs Anne Rabbitte says it's envisaged providers would be invited to participate in a pilot scheme a first.
"What is being proposed is that from the industry, they are asking that the wage subsidy scheme stay in place with the HEA model that's already there.
"Over 3,566 signed up to the wage subsidy scheme last week, the time possibly might be good for a pilot model scheme to come out of that, for various operators to sign up to it and have their various wages paid."
