AQW 41868/22-27

Mrs Michelle Guy
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley

Tabled Date: 04/03/2026
Answered On Date: 18/03/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any support that her Department has made available to provide childcare support, for those in further and higher education.

Answer:

The Department has a number of student support schemes which provide childcare support to those in further and higher education.

For those studying in Further Education the Care to Learn (NI) Scheme provides financial support towards registered childcare costs for students who are over compulsory school age and have not reached the age of 20 before the start of their course. For those Further Education students aged 18 and over, Further Education Grants and the Hardship Fund provide financial support with registered childcare costs.

In respect of Higher Education, the Department provides a means-tested childcare grant to help towards the costs of registered or approved childcare for eligible students studying at Higher Education Providers. In addition, the Department makes available Student Support Funds (also known as Hardship Funds) through the local Higher Education Institutions. These provide assistance to those who without additional support may be unable to continue with their course, potentially including help with childcare costs.