The Government has said figures cited by the Tánaiste suggesting up to 40% of childcare providers might not open in September are wrong.
Leo Varadkar's spokesman has said the Tánaiste was given incorrect information by the Department of Children.
He had earlier told the Dáil that "60% of the existing services have indicated they will be reopening by September".
However, in a statement, a spokesperson said: "The information provided to the Tánaiste by the Department of Children was inaccurate."
In an update on Thursday evening, the Department of Children clarified that a survey has shown 85% of childcare providers are planning to reopen - with only 2% indicating they are not.
The remaining 13% said they were still thinking about it.
According to the Department, only around 40% of providers stay open over the summer period - with the remainder reopening in August or September.
Earlier, Peadar Tóibín told the Dáil he estimated 10% of childcare providers have had to close since the onset of COVID-19.
The Aontú TD said the sector is dying on its feet and that it will get worse without Government intervention.
He said: "These closures, Tánaiste, are accelerating.
"In the last week alone, it's been reported that 55 childcare providers have closed.
"My office spoke to providers twice on the phone yesterday - between those two phones calls, another three providers had closed.
"I've been told this morning that seven childcare providers in Dublin had closed in the last 48 hours."
