To ask the Minister of Education to outline whether he is considering a direct subsidy scheme to improve pay for early years and childcare workers to prevent people from leaving the sector.

Mr Givan

The challenges facing the early learning and childcare workforce, including recruitment, retention, qualifications and pay, are well recognised and are being considered as part of the development of the Executive's early learning and childcare strategy. However, aware of the immediate pressures faced by the sector, I secured an additional £7 million of Executive funding to help stabilise existing provision in the current year. That has enabled me to provide additional payments to all groups delivering Sure Start, Pathway, Toybox, non-statutory preschool and other early years programmes to help them manage rising costs, including staff wages. While that has provided some temporary relief, I appreciate that a longer-term solution needs to be found. I am aware of the calls for a direct government intervention to improve the pay and retention of the early years and childcare workforce. However, given that the sector comprises private, voluntary and community sector providers, including self-employed childminders, that needs to be considered in the wider economic and business support context. To that end, the Department for the Economy is leading on a scoping exercise in conjunction with Invest Northern Ireland, the Department of Health, the Department of Education and wider stakeholders to develop a clearer picture of the business support requirements of the childcare sector and to help inform an appropriate government response. That work is due to conclude in March 2025, and it will inform proposals in the draft early learning and childcare strategy that I intend to bring forward to the Executive later in the year. We are committed to finding a balanced solution that promotes workforce stability and values our early years and childcare workers whilst maintaining accessible high-quality childcare options for families across Northern Ireland.

Mr Givan

A number of bodies that I have met can provide support. There is the NI Childminding Association with Patricia Lewsley. That organisation provides support to childminders that they can turn to. As part of the review and the strategy that we want to take forward, I am happy to look at the idea of a professional body. If it has merit and traction, it could be considered as part of the wider strategy.

Mr Buckley

Minister, what has been the impact of the subsidy cap, and will it be raised or removed?

Mr Givan

There has been an impact from the cap, and changes have happened. It has had an impact on some of the funding that we have been receiving, but we are assessing what the threshold should be. The cap that exists has affected a small number of people. The overwhelming majority of people have not been impacted by the cap in terms of the costs associated with childcare. A small number have been affected, and we are gathering data on that.