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I thank the Member for his question. It is important that we continue to upskill individuals and businesses alike. Inclusivity is priority for us across the skills landscape in order to ensure that people from a broad range of backgrounds are able to access skills and training courses, particularly those from…
I thank the Minister for her comprehensive answer. How will the Department ensure that access to AI-related skills training is inclusive, particularly of those from disadvantaged backgrounds and, indeed, those who are currently employed in sectors at risk of automation?
Artificial intelligence is one of the most significant technological developments in recent times. It will bring about significant change in the economy and the workforce, and it offers potential to contribute to my economic vision, most obviously in relation to productivity and good jobs. Last Monday, I met Napier…
I thank the Member for his question. The Department recently conducted a consultation — a call for evidence — in relation to energy efficiency support, so we will look at the analysis of that and bring forward proposals in the near future.
As I mentioned, the scheme has a budget of £40 million over, I think, five years — yes, it is a five-year grant programme valued at £40 million. That is based on applications being processed. As I said, we have 1,300 enquiries, which is an exceptionally high level of interest, and those are at various stages through…
I thank the Minister for the information provided on the energy efficiency capital grant scheme. Can the Minister outline how it will be budgeted for in the 2025-26 financial year?
Minister, energy efficiency is indeed hugely important and, along with other types of decarbonisation, is one of your four priorities. In your Department's business plan, however, next to baseline — how you measure progress — there is a range of measures for other policy interventions, but, for energy efficiency, the…
Scheme delivery has been ongoing for nine months, and we are beginning to see some trends in the data. For instance, solar photovoltaic is the most popular technology that businesses wish to deploy. The enquiries come from a mix of businesses, with the majority coming from manufacturing industries and the retail and…
Decarbonising the economy is one of my four departmental priorities. The energy efficiency capital grant helps businesses reduce their energy demand and build resilience through green efficiency. The grant is part of a wider suite of support delivered by Invest NI across the wider energy and resource efficiency…
The Member has heard me say repeatedly to other Members that childcare is a priority for the Executive. This financial year, 2024-25, we were able to ring-fence that £25 million, and the Minister of Education brought forward proposals that were supported by the Executive. I have outlined actions undertaken by my…
People will be really concerned that £1·8 million that was earmarked for childcare has been returned, given just how vital that sector is. Given that childcare is an Executive priority, did your Department seek assurances from the Education Department that that money, which was ring-fenced for childcare, would still…
As I have mentioned to other Members, childcare is a priority across the Executive. I wholeheartedly welcome the positive steps that are being taken by the Education Minister and others towards supporting child development, improving affordability for families and supporting parents to work. Our economic vision sets…
I thank the Minister for that information on the important research that her Department is doing to support the Education Department. She referenced other actions. What else is the Department for the Economy doing to assist the Department of Education when it comes to childcare specifically?
I thank the Member for her question, and I agree with a lot of what she has said. Childcare is critical economic infrastructure in addressing the challenges of gender equality. It is also crucial for child development, so it is really important that we get it right. Rightly, it is a priority for the Minister of…
I thank the Minister for her answer. Childcare is critical infrastructure for our economy in Northern Ireland. The sector is on its knees. We see reports across the board of providers having to increase their fees, passing on costs to parents and, effectively, putting people out of work, and the sector says that a…
As I mentioned, childcare is, rightly, a priority for the whole Executive. It is a priority in the draft Programme for Government (PFG) because, collectively, we recognise the huge challenges for parents struggling with access to affordable childcare and for childcare providers in the cost of doing business. The…
Thank you, Minister, for your answer. While that research is welcome, it sounds like a long work in progress. Right now in Northern Ireland, parents are forced to leave employment because they cannot afford childcare. Today, we have seen Melted Parents NI share helpline information on mental health and debt to support…
With the Speaker's permission, I will group questions 2 and 6. On 23 May 2024, the Executive agreed a package of measures and allocated an additional £25 million to the Minister of Education to enhance early learning and childcare support in 2024-25. The package included, amongst other things, a commitment to provide…
To give our skilled workforce opportunity for employment, we need growth in the wider industry. With our grid not being capable of taking about 40% of renewable energy, which is dumped at sea, will the Minister outline any expansion of or investment in our electricity grid that will allow those jobs to come through?
Decarbonisation is one of my four key objectives. Transitioning to net zero is the right thing to do, and it offers economic opportunities. In order to grasp those opportunities, it is vital to equip the workforce with the necessary skills. My Department has been working in collaboration with the green skills delivery…