Debate contribution: Childcare Providers: Funding

Debate contribution by Mr Phillip Brett on 21 January 2025.

MLA

Mr Phillip Brett

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

21 January 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Childcare Providers: Funding

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4749635

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. At the outset, I want to set the record straight: my colleagues Diane Forsythe and Peter Martin and I are not members of the Executive. We are Back-Bench MLAs and are perfectly entitled to raise issues of importance to our constituents, the people who contact our offices daily and who put their trust in us at the ballot box. I will not take lectures from any Members on what I or my party's other Back-Benchers can or cannot use the time that we are allocated in the House to speak on. If I got up and said that, because the Alliance Party holds the portfolios of justice and agriculture, its Members dare not bring any issue to the Chamber through its Back-Benchers but that its party leader or its Ministers should raise it at the Executive, I would rightly be attacked and told that I was talking nonsense, yet it seems that it is OK for others to dictate what we bring to the House. Let me be clear: I will continue to bring to the House issues that are important to my constituents and the people who vote for me, and I assure you that my party colleagues will continue to do exactly the same. This issue is vital. Ms Hunter has left the Chamber, but I will pick up on her saying that what has been achieved to date has not been transformational. Last week, I was at Currie Primary School with the Education Minister. As you know, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker, that school is located in one of the most socio-economically challenged parts of our city. From 1 September, those children will, for the first time, have access to full-time preschool education. For many of those young people, that school is the only sanctuary that they have. Regrettably, that is the only time in the day that some of those young people will get a hot meal. Unfortunately, for some that is one of only few chances for stability in their life. For those young people, the action taken by the Education Minister has been transformative. I represent North Belfast, which, as you know, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker, is one of the poorest constituencies in our Province. The 487 families who have signed up to and received hundreds of thousands of pounds in support through the childcare subsidy scheme describe that as "transformational". For many, that 15% discount on their bills each month is the difference between eating or heating their homes. For Ms Hunter's constituents, it may not be transformative, but, for the people whom I represent in North Belfast, it certainly has been. The Minister for the Economy rightly set out and articulated his points. However, it was clear, when the £25 million was allocated by the Executive, that £2 million of that funding was allocated to support childcare providers. The representations that we have received to our Committee are clear, Minister: they want to see action on that. You have highlighted that the research will be in place by 31 March, but you have not articulated this, Minister: what did you bid for in this Budget round to support that sector? What targeted support has your Department looked at introducing? I know that the Member from South Down said that we had precious parliamentary time here and that, from her perspective, this was a waste of that time. However, in her five-minute contribution, she gave no outline of what Sinn Féin's commitment, through the Department for the Economy, is to deliver the support that families need. I turn to some of the other contributions. We will support the SDLP amendment. Ms McLaughlin said that she had thought about not tabling an amendment, but that would have denied her and us the 10-minute lecture that she gave on how we have not delivered on the issue. I am proud of the record of Minister Givan and of what he has delivered to date. In four months, the scheme that was set up in September has delivered £4 million. Is there more to do? Of course there is. We say in the Chamber that we should not be party political and should not snipe, yet we then dedicate entire speeches to making attacks saying that the Minister for Education has delivered nothing. We rightly say that there needs to be a partnership approach, but it seems that, when a DUP Minister delivers on anything, it is still simply not good enough. The public watching know that it is not the content of what is being delivered that Members find objectionable; it is the fact that this party is delivering for the people of Northern Ireland. Ms Armstrong, who has been a welcome addition to the Economy Committee, rightly set out the importance of the childcare sector, particularly in County Fermanagh, which, I know, she is proud to represent. She welcomed, in particular, the £50 million that has been allocated in the draft Budget. I hope that she and her party will vote for the draft Budget when it comes before the House in the coming weeks. The Member for Strangford, Michelle Guy, hit on an important point. It is not recognised enough that parents who are not in full-time, formal employment play a vital role in the development of our young people. Whilst they may not get a salary at the end of every month, the contribution that they make to our economy and to the growth of our young people needs to be recognised, so I thank her for making that important remark. What is the debate about? It is simply about saying that our childcare providers need to be given support. In the comments made from the Benches opposite, I did not hear anyone disagree with that. However, I also did not hear an explanation of why that £2 million has not been drawn down and when the research will be available to the Committee and Members so that we can support those most in need. The changes to National Insurance contributions, which will come into force on 1 April, will be a major issue of concern for childcare providers. We will see continued rising costs. Evidence given to our Committee showed that, on average, each childcare setting will face an increase of around £18,500 as a result of the decision taken by the Labour Government. The onus is on all Members. The funding is there: let us get it out the door and support our hard-working childcare providers to ensure that all people, in all parts of Northern Ireland, have access to the support that they so richly deserve.

1,112 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:47 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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