To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) the cost of increasing the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme to 20 per cent; and (ii) whether this increase will occur from April 2026, as suggested in the draft Early Learning and Childcare Strategy.

I have extended the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme (NICSS) beyond 1 April 2026 at the current subsidy contribution of 15%, however, as the Budgets for 2026-27, including the final allocation for the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy, have not yet been set by the Executive I am not in a position to provide any commitments to increase the percentage contribution for the NICSS.

Any increase in the subsidy rate above 15% would require significant additional recurrent funding. Moving from 15% to 20% represents a one third uplift in the level of subsidy and would therefore require a broadly proportionate increase in the overall scheme budget.

Any decision regarding future increases will be considered in the context of the allocation of earmarked funding for the Executive Early Learning and Childcare Strategy and wider financial pressures.