The Government will next week sign off on a plan to buy buildings that will provide childcare facilities.
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley will bring a memo to Cabinet seeking the green light for State-led early learning centres.
Each building will deliver more than 100 places.
The process will begin this year with the acquisition of buildings and there could be 800 places available by early 2027.
The aim of the policy is to have affordable and high-quality childcare in local neighbourhoods.
The initial focus is on purchasing and refurbishing properties because this will be faster than securing planning permission to construct new buildings.
However, the option of building new facilities will also be in the mix as the programme progresses.
The State is expected to tender for operators to run the new facilities on a not-for-profit basis.
There will be an emphasis on providing places for one to three-year-old children because this is where the need is greatest.
The initiative will cover both rural and urban locations which are not well served now.
Additional supply in areas of disadvantage is another priority.
The spending plan for the Department of Children, Disability and Equality has set aside €177 million for the initiative which will run over five years.
