AQW 49933/11-16

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 19/10/2015
Answered On Date: 23/11/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail (i) which groups have benefited from the Bright Start Childcare Scheme since 2014 in East Londonderry; and (ii) for an update on a third call for applications to this scheme, including whether funding has been ring-fenced for this.

Answer:

Since 2014 the following the following childcare settings in East Londonderry Parliamentary Constituency have been funded under the Bright Start Childcare Scheme:

Group	Revenue (£)	Capital (£)
The Nest Out of School Club, Claudy	34,777	0
Burnfoot Playgroup, Dungiven	32,784	0
Dry Arch Childrens Centre, Dungiven	19,497	30,000
Gaelscoil Leim An Mhadaidh, Limavady	28,845	13,500
Apple Tree Childcare, Garvagh	11,764	30,000

To promote a further round of funding for the Bright Start Grant Scheme a series of eight events were held between 27 May and 12 June. It is now planned to open up the application process for funding again in November 2015.

In the 2011-2015 Budget, £12 million was ring-fenced to support the development of the Executive’s Childcare Strategy. Of the £12 million childcare fund, £4.2 million has been spent to date. The balance will continue to be used to resource the Key First Actions of the Childcare Strategy, such as the Bright Start Grant Scheme.