Childcare providers have staged a demonstration outside Leinster House over what they describe as a shortfall in Government funding.
The Federation of Early Childhood Providers (FECP) organised the action and said hundreds of its members have closed their crèches for three days from today in protest.
A large crowd of crèche owners, parents and childcare staff gathered outside the Dáil to call for greater investment in the sector and to highlight what they see as excessive regulation and bureaucracy.
There will be local protests in locations around the country tomorrow and on Thursday.
"Early years providers are closing their doors for good in our sector because the lack of Government funding has made the business unviable," said Elaine Dunne, Chairperson of the FECP.
The Department of Children said 64 providers are officially recorded as being closed this week and has warned that if a centre closes without giving the required notice, it could result in deductions from future payments.
SIPTU today renewed its call on childcare employers to restart pay talks.
The union described as unacceptable an offer of €13.65 per hour for Early Years Educators which was made at the Joint Labour Committee (JLC) yesterday.
"Low pay in the profession has directly led to a major staffing crisis, which will only get worse if this rate of pay is introduced," said SIPTU Head of Strategic Organising Darragh O'Connor.
"We are again calling on the employers to restart pay talks at the JLC and agree a rate of pay that recognises and values these essential workers," Mr O'Connor said.
The FECP represents around 1,500 childcare providers and said it expects hundreds of crèches to close as part of this week's protest.
Minister for Children Roderic O'Gorman said he was very disappointed at the action.
He acknowledged that there has been underinvestment in early childcare provision "for decades" but said important strides have been made over the past three years.
"We're playing catch up, but we've made really important strides over the last three years, a €400 million increase - that's 60% growth in State investment. I don't know any other area of State funding that has grown so much, so quickly," Mr O'Gorman told RTÉ's Morning Ireland.
He said that he wanted to continue to support providers but also to cut costs for parents.
Read more: Crèche owner has 'no choice but to close doors'
Minister seeking more investment in budget negotiations
Last year, childcare providers agreed to freeze their fees to avail of a new €221 million core funding scheme from the Government.
But some owners say the funding is too low and that it comes with too many restrictions.
The minister said there has not been a notable drop in the number of providers signing up to the scheme this year.
"We are at the same point now [90%] that we were last year," he said, and that continues to grow.
Mr O'Gorman added that he is working to secure more investment in the sector in Budget 2024.
"I'd be looking to continue to decrease fees for parents. I'd be looking to invest in schemes like the access and inclusion model that helps children with a disability access early years and it's actually something the federation has been calling for. And I will be looking to continue to grow core funding."
He also said that he does not know if it will be possible to achieve the aim of cutting fees in half for parents over two budgets.
"We achieved the 25% cut this year and will be looking to grow that but I can't predict the outcome of the budget."
Dublin South Central TD Bríd Smith said that six crèches have closed in her constituency over the past year.
The People Before Profit deputy said that childcare in Ireland was underfunded compared to some other countries where 2% of GDP (gross domestic product) is spent on childcare.
