On the first day back in this Chamber, we all sat here, and every party leader said that childcare was a priority. Alliance has been working hard on this over the past two years. We published details of proposals to reform childcare and reduce fees for parents. In November, when the spring Budget was announced, we warned that the increase in the minimum wage, while welcome, without support to cushion childcare providers would force them to close or to raise their fees and pass that on to parents. Here we are in April: fees have gone up; letters have come out today; and some providers are to announce yet more increases.

Childcare costs are out of control. We have said that many times in here, but it is depressing that it is now more true than ever. The Employers for Childcare survey that was published in March said:

"73% of providers have either increased their fees to parents since the start of 2024, or plan to do so before the end of June."

Those fee increases are part of an ongoing trend, and, worryingly, they may not be the end of the increases. Parents are feeling let down. I am constantly being contacted by people on the subject. One mother told me that she is moving back to Northern Ireland and is really happy to be coming back but is terrified about the cost of childcare. By talking about the issue and prioritising it, we have raised expectations. People are making life choices and decisions based on the hope that there is going to be support, and it is not coming. Words just are not enough; we need to see action.

The Minister said that there would be an update on options to deliver support for our children, parents and the sector after Easter. Easter has been and gone. We need more information on that from the Department's task and finish group. We need a timeline for the childcare strategy, and we need to see what interim support is going to be rolled out while a childcare strategy is developed and an affordable childcare scheme is rolled out. Parents just cannot deal with this anymore. They are struggling and are at their wits' end. People are having to choose between their careers and childcare, which is not in anyone's interest, least of all the child's. We urgently need an update from the Minister of Education and a commitment from everyone that this is not just words and that we will see delivery.