New childcare subsidy scheme by September

The £25 million package is designed to support children, parents, and providers with early learning and childcare in the upcoming year. This package aims to stabilise and expand the early learning and childcare sector, offering all children 22.5 hours of pre-school education per week and reducing childcare bills for working parents.

He told Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl, who raised the issue, of the importance of these measures, noting that the Executive had agreed to prioritise the implementation of early learning and childcare initiatives announced for 2024/25. "Evaluation of these measures and analysis of the data due to be collected from parents and providers in 2024/25 will inform the development of the longer-term strategy and a feasible timeline to deliver it," he added.

"While it will be challenging, my aim is to have the childcare subsidy scheme operational for September," Minister Givan stated. "My officials remain committed to working to this timescale."

Speaking after Executive approval of these support measures, Minister Givan remarked that it was an "ambitious package of measures for early learning and childcare, representing the most significant enhancement of early years investment in Northern Ireland in decades".

"This investment clearly demonstrates that, despite an extremely challenging budget position, the Executive remains committed to making support for young children, their families, and the services they rely on, a top priority."

The new measures will also help build the evidence base necessary to inform the longer-term Early Learning and Childcare Strategy.

"I very much welcome the Executive’s commitment to the delivery of 22.5 hours of funded pre-school education for all children in their pre-school year," Minister Givan continued. "This is an unprecedented expansion of early years developmental provision in over 25 years and will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the lives of children in Northern Ireland for decades to come."