2800 childcare places at risk
News » 2800 childcare places at risk
Wednesday 19th August 2009
“Pillar to post” approach to funding means thousands of childcare places, 57 projects and 262 jobs across NI now at risk
PlayBoard Chief Executive Jacqueline O’Loughlin has warned that 2800 childcare places in 57 projects right across Northern Ireland are at risk if the funding for School Age Childcare Projects, which runs out at the end of June, is not extended.
The funding scheme, which operates through the Executive Children’s Fund, provides parents with affordable, accessible childcare to enable them to return to training, education or employment opportunities. To date 2829 parents have returned to work thanks to the childcare offered by the relevant school age childcare projects involved in the initiative which currently funds 2800 childcare places. A further 210 parents have joined training courses while children are cared for under the funding initiative.
Chief Executive of PlayBoard Jacqueline O’Loughlin said, “This funding initiative supported those families in the poverty and benefits trap who were unable to source affordable childcare. We have been in discussions for months now with various departments on this issue, but have been shifted from pillar to post, with no Department taking responsibility. This shows a worrying lack of joined-up thinking on an issue which should be one of the Executive’s top priorities; the provision of childcare.
“Funding is now the responsibility of the Department of Education; government departments need to step up to the mark and ensure that those who have rejoined the world of work thanks to the initiative can continue in their jobs “.
“At a time when living costs are soaring, those single parents and families who have been supported to return to work thanks to the initiative will now face soaring childcare costs. In many cases they will be unable to afford alternative childcare outside their immediate communities and may be forced back onto benefits,“ she added.
ENDS
Contact: Carl Whyte Stakeholder Communications 02890 339949
Notes to Editors:
In November 2006 the Executive agreed that responsibility for funding the School Age Childcare project would shift from DHSSPS to the Department of Education and despite writing to both the Minister for Education and the Junior Ministers at the OFMDFM, where play policy is co-ordinated, no notification of extended funding has been received.
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