Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Government is ready to push the button on providing childcare to essential healthcare workers.
However, he said it needed public health clearance in order for the initiative to go ahead. Mr Varadkar said a number of proposals have been put together which were being considered by the National Public Health Emergency Team.
The Taoiseach said it was not an issue of money or staff available, it was an issue of public health clearance. He said this was something the Government really wanted to do and he said it was taking much longer than the Government would like.
The Department of Children and Youth Affairs has said it "stands ready to support any request from Government and the National Public Health