The issue of high childcare costs has long been a sticking point in Irish society.
If these new proposals come to pass, it may give some relief to hard-pressed working parents who are forced to dedicate a large percentage of their wages to pay for child care.
The issue of longer opening hours for schools is expected to be part of the pay talks with teacher unions, which will take place later this year.
Some schools currently provide after school care, but such programmes are very local and not subject to any coordination at national level.