Childcare Costs: Upfront Assistance

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Communities – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:15 pm on 30 November 2021.

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Photo of Deirdre Hargey Deirdre Hargey Sinn Féin 2:15, 30 November 2021

Moving to three-year Budget cycles is obviously a good thing across the Departments for all the funding that we provide. The women's sector plays a key role, as do our neighbourhood renewal partnerships, which also have an element of childcare support. I am aware of the work that the Windsor Women's Centre does, as well as that of all the other women's centres and childcare providers.

The Budget discussions are ongoing, so I cannot give any certainty around any part of the Budget until those discussions are finalised. However, ultimately, it will go out for public consultation and then come back to all the Ministers to make decisions going forward.

In all those areas, my priority will be protecting the most vulnerable in our community and ensuring that we look at access for disadvantaged communities, women, young people and those with disabilities.