AQW 4412/17-22

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 01/06/2020
Answered On Date: 12/06/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health (i) when childcare for key workers will cease to be provided free of charge; and (ii) when and how key workers making use of the free childcare were notified that it is a taxable benefit.

Answer:

The Belfast HSC Trust provided childcare free of charge on an interim basis to key workers between April and May 2020. The Department was not involved in the Belfast Trust’s decision to offer free childcare places to Trust employees, nor has the Department issued any instruction to the Trust to withdraw funding.