AQW 47059/22-27

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 26/05/2026
Answered On Date: 02/06/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education whether childcare grants offered by his Department have been reviewed in terms of value for money during 2026.

Answer:

My department provides funding for grants in support of childcare through the Bright Start School Age Childcare Grant Scheme, Bright Start Disability Holiday Grant Scheme and the Pathway Fund.

Each programme is subject to ongoing robust monitoring processes to ensure effective and appropriate use of public funds and ensure value for money.

The Bright Start and Disability Holiday Grant schemes are delivered through a cross departmental Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Health, with the Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG) acting as management agent and Playboard Northern Ireland acting as delivery agent. In accordance with the MOU, the Department of Health ensures appropriate accountability and governance arrangements are in place to safeguard the use of public money.

The DE Pathway Fund provides grant funding to c810 settings and childminders to deliver provision which supports the early development of children at risk of educational underachievement. An independent review commissioned by DE found that Pathway funded projects provide additionality and complementarity to other Early Years provision and should continue to be funded by DE.

All applications to Pathway are assessed for financial and operational need and scored against pre-defined criteria, overseen by an independent panel. Only applications that achieve the required quality threshold score are eligible for funding.