Children will likely be kept in small groups when childcare returns later this year, with a 'pod' system likely to be introduced to limit the number of children interacting with each other.
Providers may also pick children up at the parents' cars to maintain social distancing.
It comes after the Government's planned childcare scheme for essential workers collapsed last week due to a lack of practitioners signing up.
Speaking in the Dáil today, Children's Minister Katherine Zappone said childcare will look operate differently when it does return.
She told TDs: "Our preliminary guidance is pointing towards preparations whereby childcare will operate in pods.
"As far as possible, this will be small groups of children, with the same childcare practitioner, in the same room, with the same toys every time they are there."
Minister Zappone said officials are looking into how many children will be able to be cared for by a single childcare professional.
She said there will also need to be distancing for parents, explaining: "In other countries they have done this by staggered opening hours.
"But we will also examine other practices... one option is to devise a way for children to be received at the créche by parents remaining in their cars, while childcare practitioners collect children from the cars if that is how they travel."
