AQW 1780/22-27

Miss Nicola Brogan
Sinn Féin
West Tyrone

Tabled Date: 20/06/2022
Answered On Date: 01/07/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail (i) the number of people who have been supported with initial upfront childcare costs through the Advisor Discretion Fund, since it was extended in October 2021; (ii) the number of people who have submitted a claim and been rejected; (iii) the average amount of support that has been awarded; and (iv) the average length of time it has taken to process an application for support.

Answer:

Since 25 October 2021, I have made Upfront Childcare Costs available under the Adviser Discretion Fund to help parents to start work, sustain and/or increase their hours or return to work following maternity leave. Since then, and up until the 20 June 2022, my Department has:

supported 330 people;

rejected no applications as eligibility is established by discussion between the customer and their Work Coach before an application is made;

awarded an average of £569; and

taken an average of 16 calendar days to process an application for support.