AQW 8500/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 08/03/2024
Answered On Date: 15/03/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education for an update on establishing a childcare strategy to provide free, or more affordable childcare, to support those aiming to enter the workforce.

Answer:

My department continues to progress the development of an Executive Early Learning and Childcare Strategy as a matter of priority. Work is now focusing on the development of a bespoke Northern Ireland package of measures to meet the outcomes we want to achieve, both in the short and longer-term. These include consideration of affordability and enabling parental employment.

To assist with this, all departments have been invited to allocate staff to a Task and Finish Group which will ensure cross-departmental input across the range of issues the strategy needs to address.

I have bid for funding to enable me to take forward short-term actions in the 2024/25 financial year. I will work with my Executive colleagues on this but progress will ultimately depend on the funds being made available to my department.