AQW 38002/22-27

Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast

Tabled Date: 12/01/2026
Answered On Date: 19/01/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail how his Department supports after-school daycare providers to offer the Childcare Subsidy Scheme, to allow parents to avail of the subsidised childcare.

Answer:

My Department provides an administrative payment to all childcare providers, including after-school daycare providers, that choose to participate in the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme (NICSS). This payment is intended to help offset additional administrative costs associated with operating the NICSS, including applying the subsidy to invoices and submitting monthly claims.

There are currently 19 daycare providers and 12 out of school providers operating in North Belfast. Of these, 17 daycare providers and 8 out of school providers are registered to the NICSS.