AQW 28223/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 05/06/2025
Answered On Date: 20/06/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to outline what actions he is taking to promote the benefits of early reading.

Answer:

Health visitors, through the core delivery of the Healthy Child Healthy Future programme, encourage parents to interact with their baby through talking, singing and reading books. The Department of Education, through the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy, fund the Bookstart programme. Health visitors distribute these book packs to families with young children and also promote the use of local libraries.