OFMDFM - News Release
Friday 4th May 2012
OFMDFM News Release - MINISTERS ANNOUNCE AN ADDITIONAL £700,000 INVESTMENT IN SCHOOL AGE CHILDCARE
OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER
3 May 2012
Ministers announce an additional £700,000 investment in school age childcare
Junior Ministers Jonathan Bell and Martina Anderson today announced that OFMDFM will be providing support to PlayBoard’s After Schools Clubs for another financial year.
The investment, worth an additional £700,000 over the next 12 months, will support a range of after school settings, and allow PlayBoard to maintain continuity of services to children and parents who use their after schools clubs.
Junior Minister Bell said: “This funding is evidence of Government’s determination to support essential services, and represents another strand of our continuing investment in our children and young people. Affordable, good quality after school provision is important to allow parents to continue to work and train, knowing that their children are in a safe, child-centred environment.”
Junior Minister Anderson added: “This funding is an important interim measure to allow continuity of services to parents and children whilst the Executive develops the new Childcare Strategy. The Childcare Strategy will be published by the end of the year and, building on recent improvements, will promote co-operation between departments and providers. There will be new measures to support the availability of good quality, accessible, affordable and integrated childcare, including after school provision.”
Notes to editors:
1. The £707,566 funding for after school childcare services is administered by PlayBoard on behalf of OFMDFM.
2. OFMDFM intends to carry out a consultation later in the year on proposals for a Strategy to promote the availability of good quality, accessible, integrated and affordable childcare.
3. For media enquiries please contact the OFMDFM Press Office on 028 9037 8283. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5 440 and your call will be returned.
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