Childcare providers say they will hold a national protest in early February to highlight what they say is a worsening crisis in the sector.
The Federation of Early Childhood Providers, which is among a number of organisations supporting a national demonstration, said low payment rates is the greatest problem in the sector.
Chairperson Elaine Dunne said: "The reason the insurance hike in the sector has hit us so hard, is because we are paid so little in the first place.
"The ECCE grant pays us €4.60 an hour, we only get paid for three hours a day. Sustainability is a real issue for providers."
In a statement announcing the 5 February protest, the chairperson of the Association of Childhood Professionals Chairperson, Marian Quinn, said: "High quality services don't come cheap and we can't continue to subsidise the true cost of provision through low wages, unsustainable services, and high fees for parents.
She said the State had to accept responsibility and significantly fund what she called a vital public service, and she called for an end to an inequitable situation where "impoverished staff are providing the foundation level in our education system".
According to the trade union SIPTU, early years educators earn just €11.45 on average, well below the living wage.
The union said the majority are struggling to make ends meet and will be unable to stay in their profession if things don't change.
The protest, which is bring organised by an alliance of groups, will aim to highlight election demands for the sector.
These include the development of a funding model that supports affordable and accessible childcare for parents, high quality for children and sustainability for providers.
The Early Years Alliance is also seeking adequate funding for the introduction of the living wage for all workers in the sector in 2020, as a first step towards a professional pay scale, and the establishment of a single inspection process with a graded compliance system.
