AQW 38002/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Education

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.

Asked by Nuala McAllister MLA on 12 January 2026

  • Answered
  • Written
Tabled
12 January 2026
Answer due by
27 January 2026
Answered
19 January 20267 days after tabling
Department
Department of Education
Priority question
No

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.

Official sources