To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail the steps her Department is taking to support childcare providers and ensure families have access to quality, affordable childcare.

High quality, affordable childcare is a priority for the Executive. My department is working closely with the Department of Education on the development of their Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Strategy, including representation on the ELC Task and Finish Group where workforce is a specific focus. Supporting skills and education pathways for those working in the sector is a key focus for my department. My department currently provides a suite of pathways for childcare training and qualifications through Further and Higher Education, and through vocational qualifications like apprenticeships and traineeships, which will qualify individuals to work across a range of childcare settings. In July 2024, my predecessor ringfenced £740k of the Skills Fund to support pathways into the childcare sector, with the aim of increasing the supply of suitably qualified workers to help maintain and grow the sector across the North. In addition, we funded 20 places on the Assured Skills Academy in Early Learning and Childcare at Belfast Met. We will continue to monitor the need for additional or alternative skills provision to support the childcare sector. In addition, my officials are assisting the Department of Education with market research on the childcare sector. This research will determine the key issues impacting the financial sustainability of providers within the childcare sector and will inform whether specific sectoral support is required and, if so, what form this should take.