AQW 20530/22-27


Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Foyle


Tabled Date: 14/01/2025
Answered On Date: 22/01/2025
Priority Written: Yes


Question:
To ask the Minister of Education, following the announcement of an additional 2500 full time preschool places for the 2025-26 academic year, for a breakdown of these places by constituency.


Answer:
Information on the pre-schools transitioning to full-time provision from September 2025 is published by constituency on the Department website at Minister’s Decisions on Pre-School Settings Requesting Transition from September 2025 | Department of Education.
The number of funded pre-school education places in local areas is set annually by the Education Authority, based on demand and is therefore subject to change from year to year. A summary of the number of additional full-time places by constituency, based on the 2024-25 patterns of demand, is set out below.
Constituency
Places
Belfast East
37
Belfast North
140
Belfast South and Mid Down
74
Belfast West
22
East Antrim
160
East Londonderry
251
Fermanagh and South Tyrone
276
Foyle
76
Lagan Valley
162
Mid Ulster
152
Newry and Armagh
144
North Antrim
125
North Down
170
South Antrim
180
South Down
173
Strangford
78
Upper Bann
135
West Tyrone
167
Total
2522