AQW 12198/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 20/05/2024
Answered On Date: 10/06/2024
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister of Finance (i) whether the £25 million allocated for childcare by the Executive was intended to be spent on standardisation of pre-school; and (ii) and for her assessment of whether pre-school constitutes childcare.

Answer:

As part of the Executive’s Budget 2024-25, it was agreed that £25 million would be held centrally, pending measures being brought forward by the Education Minister, informed by a cross-departmental task and finish group.

On 23 May 2024, the Executive agreed a series of measures for early learning and childcare brought forward by the Education Minister to use this £25 million funding. The measures are set out in his written ministerial statement on that date.

The Department of Education has lead policy responsibility and, should you require further information on this, you may wish to contact the Education Minister.