Motion Amendment

Motion TitleFunding for Childcare - Amendment 1

Motion Amendment TextLeave out all after ‘Programme for Government’ and insert: ‘welcomes the speed of the roll-out of the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme (NICSS) with an estimated uptake from over 90 per cent of those eligible, over £6.5 million in savings delivered to families to date, and 100 percent of allocated funding on track to be spent by the end of this financial year; notes fears that in some instances rising costs could outweigh potential savings for parents provided by the NICSS; commends, therefore, the decision to increase the maximum subsidy cap per child by 10 per cent from 1 April 2025; accepts that the cost of implementing a comprehensive and ambitious early learning and childcare strategy as called for by the Minister of Education will be significant; and calls on the Minister of Finance to commit to fully fund a multi-year early learning and childcare strategy which provides affordable, quality childcare for parents alongside long-term sustainability for providers.’

Amendment Number1

Motion Amendment CategoryPrivate Members' Motion

Date Tabled to Business Office19/03/2025

Date of Plenary Debate24/03/2025