AQW 35712/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 18/11/2025
Answered On Date: 21/11/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education for an update on the work undertaken by Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, to better understand parents’ childcare requirements.

Answer:

The first release of the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) Northern Ireland Childcare Survey Results were published as Official Statistics on 8 May 2025. Since that time, NISRA has published supplementary data.

The survey results and supplementary data can be accessed via the following link - Northern Ireland Childcare Survey Results.

The NISRA survey, alongside stakeholder engagement and other research, has informed the development of the draft Early Learning and Childcare Strategy which I issued to Executive colleagues on 14 November 2025 seeking agreement to issue for public consultation.