AQW 45132/11-15

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 27/04/2015
Answered On Date: 11/05/2015
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the number of children who currently benefit from Early Years funded organisations in Northern Ireland.

Answer:

The Early Years Fund is administered by Early Years – the Organisation for Young Children (EYO) on DE’s behalf. According to monitoring information supplied to DE by EYO in relation to 2014/15, 2559 children directly benefitted from the Fund.

The Fund has effectively remained as a “closed” Fund since introduced by DHSSPS in 2004, to applicant groups that were in areas of greatest need of support to become sustainable at that time, following the ending of Peace II funding. Undoubtedly, therefore, there are equally deserving children in the north that could benefit from such support.

I will continue to review my budget to establish if a fund can continue. However any such fund will have to be open to all, not just current recipients and reflect the policy priorities of DE.