AQW 22870/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Finance
To ask the Minister of Finance, pursuant to AQW 20966/22-27, whether the £1.8 million returned to the Department of Finance which had been ring-fenced for Early Learning and Childcare Funding will still be available to support childcare measures.
Asked by Michelle Guy MLA on 18 February 2025
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 18 February 2025
- Answer due by
- 5 March 2025
- Answered
- 25 February 20257 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Finance
- Priority question
- No
Answer
As required for underspends in earmarked funding, the Department of Education returned the £1.8 million, and this formed part of the funding that was made available in the January monitoring round for allocation across departments.
The Executive’s Draft Budget 2025-26 sets aside £50 million for early learning and childcare support measures.