AQW 51137/11-16

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

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

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 49980/11-16, to detail what opportunities stakeholders have had to respond to proposals for the new Pathways Fund.

Answer:

Procurement for the Fund Administrator is underway with Central Procurement Directorate (CPD), DFP which is a Centre of Procurement Expertise (CoPE), with the view to having an administrator in place in December 2015. Once the Administrator has been appointed they will liaise with the Early Years sector in relation to the application and assessment process.

The Pathway Fund will be open for applications in early 2016, with the aim of awards being made by April 2016.

The Pathway Fund will be open to all providers of Early Years education (aged 0-4) to apply.