Childcare provision: NI strategy could cost up to £400m

Education Secretary Paul Givan has said up to £400 million could be needed to introduce a new early learning and childcare strategy in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland does not have a free childcare system in place.

Jivan said the size of the budget needed would depend on “the scope of the strategy and the level of support agreed by the authorities.”

The Education Secretary was speaking on Monday as MPs debated a Sinn Féin motion on Northern Ireland’s “unaffordable” childcare costs.

Mr Jivan said developing an early learning and childcare strategy was a “top priority” and would present the first document on the issue to executives later this week.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) politician said it depended on “the executive’s willingness to fund it”, adding: “That will be the real test of commitment.”

He said a cross-departmental approach was important to tackling the issue and he wanted to deliver a “bespoke” plan for Northern Ireland.

“If real and meaningful change is to occur, my senior leadership colleagues must be prepared to invest appropriately in early learning and childcare,” he said.

“If fully implemented, annual and recurring costs could be up to £400m.”

Sinn Féin councilor Nicola Brogan said an all-party group in Stormont had considered a UK plan aimed at providing 30 hours of free childcare a week.

She said it sounded good, but it didn’t really work.

“We need a unique model that ensures the sustainability of the industry by protecting the conditions and wages of workers, and reduces fees for parents and costs for families,” she said.

Alliance Party MP Kate Nicholl said childcare was more than just “babysitting”.

“It’s child development, early education, early intervention. It’s a means to improve economic activity levels. It’s about gender equality in the labor market,” she said.

Robbie Butler, deputy leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, called on Mr Givan to submit a “costed options document as soon as possible”.

Social Democrat and Labor MP Sinead McLaughlin called on the government to set out an ambitious plan.

“We can see the failure of the free time model in the UK, and we can also see the promise of models in countries like Norway and Sweden that invest in changing outcomes and limiting costs from the first days of a child’s life. ” she said.

“Grow your ambition and realize this is an investment, not a cost.”

George Foster, who employs 26 staff at two nurseries in Londonderry, said he had had to invest tens of thousands of pounds to keep his business afloat.

“It’s unaffordable for parents and daycare centers can’t charge the right amount to ensure it’s sustainable,” he said.

“We need to act now, [politicians] We really need to get it right. ”

Becca Harper, co-founder of Melted Parents NI, said childcare costs for parents were “incredibly tough”.

“We love our providers. Our providers are an extension of our family. We completely understand the crisis facing our entire industry,” she said.

“But unfortunately, at the moment when you become a parent in Northern Ireland, the fees outweigh your salary, and fees are rising regularly.”

Ms Harper said one parent who contacted the group said her childcare fee would increase from £1,700 to £2,000 if she gave three weeks’ notice.

“It’s not the providers’ fault. We want them to stay open and we need them to stay open,” she added.

“But the failure here lies with the government. It’s really the lack of investment not just in recent years, but in the past decades.”