Employers' body Ibec and trade unions group Ictu today called for up to 100,000 additional childcare places by 2016.
The organisations unveiled a joint 10-year strategy with recommendations for action to deal with supply of places, quality of childcare, affordability, institutional responsibility and planning requirements.
Among the recommendations are a number of proposals to increase supply of childcare facilities - such as crèches, home childminding and after-school activities - as well as a voucher system to assist working parents with affordability.
"The implementation of the recommendations in this report could make a significant difference to working parents and their children by creating real and high-quality options for families," Ictu spokesperson David Joyce said.
"This report challenges us all to think about childcare in a long-term and strategic way, with joint up thinking across traditional departmental lines," Maria Cronin, Ibec's director of European and Social Policy, said.
"It aims to empower local communities so that practical solutions can be focused on local needs and priorities."